Engineered Oncolytic VSV Enhances Tumor Killing in HBV-Positive HCC

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection being a major contributor to its development. Despite this, effective treatment for HBV-associated HCC remains a significant challenge. In this study, we combined the strengths of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and therapeutic vaccines to propose a novel strategy for treating HBV-related liver cancer. We engineered an oncolytic virus that delivers hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and the IL-15 cytokine directly to tumor cells, thereby enhancing immune activation and promoting tumor cell destruction. As the tumor cells die, they release additional virus particles, spreading HBsAg and IL-15 expression to neighboring tumor cells. This approach demonstrated promising efficacy in multiple HBV-positive HCC mouse models.