Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Oncolytic peptides (OLPs) constitute an emerging class of immunotherapeutics that combine direct cancer cell lysis with immune activation. Indeed, OLPs induce rapid immunogenic cell death by disrupting intracellular membranes, which culminates with the abundant release of malignant cell contents including immunostimulatory danger-associated molecular patterns. This results in the engagement of innate immune sensors that potently activate dendritic cells, leading to the cross-priming of tumor-specific T lymphocytes that mediate systemic anticancer immunity. Through such a dual mechanism, OLPs can remodel the tumor microenvironment and overcome resistance to therapy as promoted by intratumoral heterogeneity, hence representing optimal combinatorial partners for immune checkpoint inhibitors. Some OLPs have also shown remarkable clinical efficacy. For instance, LTX-315 (studied as VP-315 in basal cell carcinoma (BCC)) has recently been shown to enable complete and durable responses in patients with BCC, and emerging evidence points to a significant activity of LTX-315 in immunologically cold tumors. Here, we summarize recent mechanistic, preclinical, and clinical advances in OLP development, underscoring their potential as a versatile and powerful modality of cancer immunotherapy.
Institutions: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Inserm, Institut Universitaire de France, Université Paris Cité, Université Paris-Saclay, Institut Gustave Roussy, Sorbonne Université, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Analyse moléculaire, modélisation et imagerie de la maladie cancéreuse, Lytix Biopharma (Norway), Fox Chase Cancer Center, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges-Pompidou
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,490
Funders: Starr Cancer Consortium, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer, Seerave Foundation, European Commission, Agence Nationale de la Recherche, Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale, Ligue Contre le Cancer, Institut Universitaire de France, Institut National Du Cancer, Cancéropôle Ile de France, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Fondation Gustave Roussy, National Institutes of Health, Weill Cornell Medical College, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Stand Up To Cancer, National Cancer Institute, H2020 European Research Council, HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council
Awards: Development of “smart” amplifiers of reactive oxygen species specific to aberrant polymorphonuclear neutrophils for treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, cancer and myeloablation., G1462752421, Next-generation phenotypic screening for oncological applications, Lung cancer prevention and interception, Biomarkers affecting the transition from cardiovascular disease to lung cancer: towards stratified interception., Gut OncoMicrobiome Signatures (GOMS) associated with cancer incidence, prognosis and prediction of treatment response., G2951533920, Mitochondrial copper targeting to modulate inflammatory macrophages, G4104427450, G4256809665, G434337789, G489133006, Microbiota-centered interventions to solve antibiotics-induced primary resistance to immune checkpoint inhibitors, Energizing the failing heart, G6355194227, G6584169967, G6929636474, G7185013638, G82931992, Université de Paris, The RUSH (retention using selective hooks) system: a chemical-genetic system for the in vivo manipulation of intercellular communication, Targeting the BCL2 immune checkpoint to enhance the immunostimulatory effects of radiation in breast cancer
OpenAlex ID: W7128590124