VLP-based Cancer Therapy: Past, Present, and Future Prospects

The emergence of virus-like particles (VLPs) in cancer represents a promising research avenue for effective targeted therapies. VLPs structurally resemble viruses but lack genetic material and offer distinct advantages in cancer therapy, including targeting specific cancer cells, inducing immune responses, and delivering therapeutic payloads. Conventionally, VLPs can trigger apoptosis, stimulate immune-mediated cytotoxicity, or transport anticancer agents. Viral and non-viral-based VLPs have shown potential for cancer treatment, exhibiting preclinical efficacy which is observed in animal models. Furthermore, early-phase clinical trials have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of VLP-based therapies, with limited efficacy in some cases. Despite these advancements, challenges such as immunogenicity, scalability, and delivery issues persist, necessitating further research to optimize VLP-based cancer therapies. Future directions encompass innovative strategies such as combination therapies and personalized medicine approaches to enhance the efficacy and clinical utility of VLPs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the status of VLP-based cancer therapy, elucidating its mechanisms of action, types of VLPs utilized, preclinical and clinical studies, and challenges and future directions in this field. In conclusion, VLP-based cancer therapy has immense potential as a novel therapeutic modality, offering hope for improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for patients with cancer in the future.