Leptin-Producing Oncolytic Virus Makes Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells Fit, Not Fat (Immunity)

Effective anticancer immunosurveillance after oncolytic viral infection is often hindered by the defective metabolic function of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). A recent paper by Rivadeneira et al. demonstrates that intratumoral delivery of leptin by a recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus can metabolically enhance TIL effector and memory functions through improved mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy.