Replication-selective oncolytic viruses in the treatment of cancer

Combination of Oncolytic Virotherapy with Different Antitumor Approaches against Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant and aggressive tumors of the central nervous system. Despite the standard therapy consisting of maximal surgical resection and chemo- and radiotherapy, the median survival of patients with this diagnosis is about 15 months. Oncolytic virus therapy is one of the promising areas for the treatment of malignant neoplasms. In this review, we have focused on emphasizing recent achievements in virotherapy, both as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapeutic schemes to improve survival rate and quality of life among patients with glioblastoma.

Systems Biology Approaches for the Improvement of Oncolytic Virus-Based Immunotherapies

Oncolytic virus (OV)-based immunotherapy is mainly dependent on establishing an efficient cell-mediated antitumor immunity. OV-mediated antitumor immunity elicits a renewed antitumor reactivity, stimulating a T-cell response against tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) and recruiting natural killer cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Despite the fact that OVs are unspecific cancer vaccine platforms, to further enhance antitumor immunity, it is crucial to identify the potentially immunogenic T-cell restricted TAAs, the main key orchestrators in evoking a specific and durable cytotoxic T-cell response. Today, innovative approaches derived from systems biology are exploited to improve target discovery in several types of cancer and to identify the MHC-I and II restricted peptide repertoire recognized by T-cells. Using specific computation pipelines, it is possible to select the best tumor peptide candidates that can be efficiently vectorized and delivered by numerous OV-based platforms, in order to reinforce anticancer immune responses. Beyond the identification of TAAs, system biology can also support the engineering of OVs with improved oncotropism to reduce toxicity and maintain a sufficient portion of the wild-type virus virulence. Finally, these technologies can also pave the way towards a more rational design of armed OVs where a transgene of interest can be delivered to TME to develop an intratumoral gene therapy to enhance specific immune stimuli.

Biomaterial-Based In Situ Cancer Vaccines

Cancer immunotherapies have reshaped the paradigm for cancer treatment over the past decade. Among them, therapeutic cancer vaccines that aim to modulate antigen-presenting cells and subsequent T cell priming processes are among the first FDA-approved cancer immunotherapies. However, despite showing benign safety profiles and the capability to generate antigen-specific humoral and cellular responses, cancer vaccines have been limited by the modest therapeutic efficacy, especially for immunologically cold solid tumors. One key challenge lies in the identification of tumor-specific antigens, which involves a costly and lengthy process of tumor cell isolation, DNA/RNA extraction, sequencing, mutation analysis, epitope prediction, peptide synthesis, and antigen screening. To address these issues, in situ cancer vaccines have been actively pursued to generate endogenous antigens directly from tumors and utilize the generated tumor antigens to elicit potent cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response. Biomaterials-based in situ cancer vaccines, in particular, have achieved significant progress by taking advantage of biomaterials that can synergize antigens and adjuvants, troubleshoot delivery issues, home, and manipulate immune cells in situ. This review will provide an overview of biomaterials-based in situ cancer vaccines, either living or artificial materials, under development or in the clinic, and discuss the design criteria for in situ cancer vaccines.

Rational selection of an ideal oncolytic virus to address current limitations in clinical translation

Oncolytic virus therapy (OVT) is a promising modality that leverages the propensity of natural or engineered viruses to selectively replicate in and kill cancer cells. Over the past decade, (pre)clinical studies have focused on the development and testing of adenovirus, herpes simplex virus, and vaccinia virus-based vectors. These studies have identified barriers to success confronting the field. Here, we propose a set of selection criteria or ideal properties of a successful oncolytic virus, which include lack of pathogenicity, low seroprevalence, selectivity (infection and replication), transgene carrying capacity, and genome stability. We use these requirements to analyze the oncolytic virus landscape, and then identify a potentially optimal species for platform development - vesicular stomatitis virus.

A qPCR-Based Method for Quantification of RCA Contaminants in Oncolytic Adenovirus Products

Oncolytic adenovirus is one of the most promising treatments against cancer and is widely evaluated clinically. During high titer production, “Wild-type-” like replication-competent adenovirus (RCA) contaminants can be generated through recombination events due to the DNA sequence similarity between oncolytic virus and host cells. These RCA contaminants raise various safety concerns in clinics. Cell culture-based methods have been developed to detect RCA contaminants in replication-deficient adenovirus vectors. These methods were based on that only RCA contaminants, but not the vectors, are able to grow in and lyse the test cell line. However, these methods are not suitable for distinguishing RCA contaminants from the oncolytic adenovirus products because both can replicate in test cell lines. Herein, we reported a qPCR-based method to quantify RCA contaminants quickly and reliably in E1B-deleted oncolytic adenovirus products. This method is based on specific detection of the E1B gene, which can be acquired during production via recombination events between viral and host cell DNA. The assay is sensitive with the limit of detection at 10 VP of the RCA contaminants and the limit of quantification at 75 VP of the RCA contaminants in each 40 µL qPCR reaction. We have also validated the method on virus batches produced in the non-GMP and GMP conditions. Our results showed that this qPCR-based method was reliable and robust for detecting and quantifying RCA contaminants in oncolytic adenovirus products. The method may also be adapted for other oncolytic adenoviruses products by switching primer sets.

Oncolytic Viruses and Cancer, Do You Know the Main Mechanism?

The global rate of cancer has increased in recent years, and cancer is still a threat to human health. Recent developments in cancer treatment have yielded the understanding that viruses have a high potential in cancer treatment. Using oncolytic viruses (OVs) is a promising approach in the treatment of malignant tumors. OVs can achieve their targeted treatment effects through selective cell death and induction of specific antitumor immunity. Targeting tumors and the mechanism for killing cancer cells are among the critical roles of OVs. Therefore, evaluating OVs and understanding their precise mechanisms of action can be beneficial in cancer therapy. This review study aimed to evaluate OVs and the mechanisms of their effects on cancer cells.

The Effect of Herpes Simplex Virus-Type-1 (HSV-1) Oncolytic Immunotherapy on the Tumor Microenvironment

The development of cancer causes disruption of anti-tumor immunity required for surveillance and elimination of tumor cells. Immunotherapeutic strategies aim for the restoration or establishment of these anti-tumor immune responses. Cancer immunotherapies include immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cellular therapy (ACT), cancer vaccines, and oncolytic virotherapy (OVT). The clinical success of some of these immunotherapeutic modalities, including herpes simplex virus type-1 derived OVT, resulted in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use in treatment of human cancers. However, a significant proportion of patients do not respond or benefit equally from these immunotherapies. The creation of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) represents an important barrier preventing success of many immunotherapeutic approaches. Mechanisms of immunosuppression in the TME are a major area of current research. In this review, we discuss how oncolytic HSV affects the tumor microenvironment to promote anti-tumor immune responses. Where possible we focus on oncolytic HSV strains for which clinical data is available, and discuss how these viruses alter the vasculature, extracellular matrix and immune responses in the tumor microenvironment.

Natural Killer Cells Recruitment in Oncolytic Virotherapy: A Mathematical Model

In this paper, we investigate how natural killer (NK) cell recruitment to the tumor microenvironment (TME) affects oncolytic virotherapy. NK cells play a major role against viral infections. They are, however, known to induce early viral clearance of oncolytic viruses, which hinders the overall efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy. Here, we formulate and analyze a simple mathematical model of the dynamics of the tumor, OV and NK cells using currently available preclinical information. The aim of this study is to characterize conditions under which the synergistic balance between OV-induced NK responses and required viral cytopathicity may or may not result in a successful treatment. In this study, we found that NK cell recruitment to the TME must take place neither too early nor too late in the course of OV infection so that treatment will be successful. NK cell responses are most influential at either early (partly because of rapid response of NK cells to viral infections or antigens) or later (partly because of antitumoral ability of NK cells) stages of oncolytic virotherapy. The model also predicts that: (a) an NK cell response augments oncolytic virotherapy only if viral cytopathicity is weak; (b) the recruitment of NK cells modulates tumor growth; and (c) the depletion of activated NK cells within the TME enhances the probability of tumor escape in oncolytic virotherapy. Taken together, our model results demonstrate that OV infection is crucial, not just to cytoreduce tumor burden, but also to induce the stronger NK cell response necessary to achieve complete or at least partial tumor remission. Furthermore, our modeling framework supports combination therapies involving NK cells and OV which are currently used in oncolytic immunovirotherapy to treat several cancer types.

Overcoming Challenges for CD3-Bispecific Antibody Therapy in Solid Tumors

Immunotherapy of cancer with CD3-bispecific antibodies is an approved therapeutic option for some hematological malignancies and is under clinical investigation for solid cancers. However, the treatment of solid tumors faces more pronounced hurdles, such as increased on-target off-tumor toxicities, sparse T-cell infiltration and impaired T-cell quality due to the presence of an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which affect the safety and limit efficacy of CD3-bispecific antibody therapy. In this review, we provide a brief status update of the CD3-bispecific antibody therapy field and identify intrinsic hurdles in solid cancers. Furthermore, we describe potential combinatorial approaches to overcome these challenges in order to generate selective and more effective responses.

Hitting the Target but Missing the Point: Recent Progress towards Adenovirus-Based Precision Virotherapies

More people are surviving longer with cancer. Whilst this can be partially attributed to advances in early detection of cancers, there is little doubt that the improvement in survival statistics is also due to the expansion in the spectrum of treatments available for efficacious treatment. Transformative amongst those are immunotherapies, which have proven effective agents for treating immunogenic forms of cancer, although immunologically "cold" tumour types remain refractive. Oncolytic viruses, such as those based on adenovirus, have great potential as anti-cancer agents and have seen a resurgence of interest in recent years. Amongst their many advantages is their ability to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) of infected tumour cells, thus providing the alluring potential to synergise with immunotherapies by turning immunologically "cold" tumours "hot". Additionally, enhanced immune mediated cell killing can be promoted through the local overexpression of immunological transgenes, encoded from within the engineered viral genome. To achieve this full potential requires the development of refined, tumour selective "precision virotherapies" that are extensively engineered to prevent off-target up take via native routes of infection and targeted to infect and replicate uniquely within malignantly transformed cells. Here, we review the latest advances towards this holy grail within the adenoviral field.

Building sophisticated sensors of extracellular cues that enable mammalian cells to work as "doctors" in the body

Mammalian cells are inherently capable of sensing extracellular environmental signals and activating complex biological functions on demand. Advances in synthetic biology have made it possible to install additional capabilities, which can allow cells to sense the presence of custom biological molecules and provide defined outputs on demand. When implanted/infused in patients, such engineered cells can work as intrabody "doctors" that diagnose disease states and produce and deliver therapeutic molecules when and where necessary. The key to construction of such theranostic cells is the development of a range of sensor systems for detecting various extracellular environmental cues that can be rewired to custom outputs. In this review, we introduce the state-of-art engineering principles utilized in the design of sensor systems to detect soluble factors and also to detect specific cell contact, and we discuss their potential role in treating intractable diseases by delivering appropriate therapeutic functions on demand. We also discuss the challenges facing these emerging technologies.

IL-24-Armed Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Exerts Potent Antitumor Effects via Multiple Pathways in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is an aggressive malignancy for which there are limited treatment options. Oncolytic vaccinia virus is being developed as a novel strategy for cancer therapy. Arming vaccinia virus with immunostimulatory cytokines can enhance the tumor cell-specific replication and antitumor efficacy. Interleukin-24 (IL-24) is an important immune mediator, as well as a broad-spectrum tumor suppressor. We constructed a targeted vaccinia virus of Guang9 strain harboring IL-24 (VG9-IL-24) to evaluate its antitumor effects. In vitro, VG9-IL-24 induced an increased number of apoptotic cells and blocked colorectal cancer cells in the G₂/M phase of the cell cycle. VG9-IL-24 induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells via multiple apoptotic signaling pathways. In vivo, VG9-IL-24 significantly inhibited the tumor growth and prolonged the survival both in human and murine colorectal cancer models. In addition, VG9-IL-24 stimulated multiple antitumor immune responses and direct bystander antitumor activity. Our results indicate that VG9-IL-24 can inhibit the growth of colorectal cancer tumor by inducing oncolysis and apoptosis as well as stimulating the antitumor immune effects. These findings indicate that VG9-IL-24 may exert a potential therapeutic strategy for combating colorectal cancer.

Oncolytic viruses: what to expect from their use in cancer treatment

Oncolytic viruses are biologic agents able to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells while sparing the normal ones. Furthermore, they also stimulate the host immune system to combat the tumor growth and to promote tumor removal. This review thoroughly describes different types of viruses developed for targeting specific cancers, as well as the strategies to improve the efficacy and safety of oncolytic virotherapy. It also explores how their potential as anticancer agents may be enhanced through combination with other traditional therapies, such as chemotherapy or more recent approaches, such as checkpoint inhibitors. There are many oncolytic viruses currently being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of various types of cancer, suggesting that this approach could become the near future of the oncology field.

An Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Armed with GM-CSF and IL-24 Double Genes for Cancer Targeted Therapy

Purpose

Targeted oncolytic vaccinia virus is an attractive candidate for cancer therapy due to its replication causing lysis of infected tumor cells as well as a delivery vector to overexpress therapeutic transgenes. This study constructed a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus carrying granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-24 (IL-24) double genes to improve efficacy for cancer therapy.

Methods

Vaccinia virus co-expressing GM-CSF and IL-24 based on Chinese Guang9 strain (VG9-GMCSF-IL24) was constructed with disruption of the viral thymidine kinase (TK) gene. The cytotoxicity of VG9-GMCSF-IL24 in various cell lines was assessed by MTT. The synergistic antitumor effect of VG9-GMCSF-IL24 in vivo was assessed on multiple tumor models.

Results

In vitro cytotoxicity assay showed that VG9-GMCSF-IL24 exerted a strongly cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, but with no significant cytotoxicity to normal cells. Significant tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival were observed in different tumor models treated with VG9-GMCSF-IL24. Additionally, systemic and specific antitumoral immunity was investigated in vivo, and enhanced antitumor immunity was observed in VG9-GMCSF-IL24-treated mice.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that VG9-mediated GM-CSF and IL-24 co-expression performed cooperative and overlapping antitumor effect. As a novel and effective therapeutic strategy for cancer, the combination of oncolysis and immunotherapy with vaccinia virus carrying one or more immunostimulatory genes may have a satisfactory clinical application prospect.

Talimogene laherparepvec: review of its mechanism of action and clinical efficacy and safety

Intratumoral immunotherapy inhibits tumor growth by killing injected tumor cells, thus initiating local and systemic immune responses. Oncolytic viruses are a novel class of intratumoral immunotherapies that show promise for treating solid tumors. Talimogene laherparepvec is a first-in-class, genetically modified, herpes simplex virus type 1-based oncolytic immunotherapy approved for the local treatment of unresectable cutaneous, subcutaneous and nodal lesions in patients with melanoma recurrent after initial surgery. This review highlights the dual mechanism of action for talimogene laherparepvec (direct tumor cell lysis and stimulation of local response in tumor microenvironment and systemic immune response in distant metastases), summarizes key preclinical and clinical trials evaluating efficacy and safety of talimogene laherparepvec in melanoma, and describes studies ongoing in other solid tumors.

Combinatory effects of vaccinia virus VG9 and the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic on cancer therapy

The recombinant vaccinia virus VG9 and the STAT3 inhibitor Stattic were combined to kill cancer cells via both oncolytic activity and inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation in cells. The combinatory anti-tumour activity of these compounds was superior to the activity of VG9 or Stattic alone in vivo. The inhibition of tumour growth occurred via increased apoptosis and autophagy pathways. Furthermore, the combinatory anti-tumour activity was more efficient than that of VG9 or Stattic alone on xenografts, especially in nude mice.

Fusogenic Viruses in Oncolytic Immunotherapy

Oncolytic viruses are under intense development and have earned their place among the novel class of cancer immunotherapeutics that are changing the face of cancer therapy. Their ability to specifically infect and efficiently kill tumor cells, while breaking immune tolerance and mediating immune responses directed against the tumor, make oncolytic viruses highly attractive candidates for immunotherapy. Increasing evidence indicates that a subclass of oncolytic viruses, which encodes for fusion proteins, could outperform non-fusogenic viruses, both in their direct oncolytic potential, as well as their immune-stimulatory properties. Tumor cell infection with these viruses leads to characteristic syncytia formation and cell death due to fusion, as infected cells become fused with neighboring cells, which promotes intratumoral spread of the infection and releases additional immunogenic signals. In this review, we discuss the potential of fusogenic oncolytic viruses as optimal candidates to enhance immunotherapy and initiate broad antitumor responses. We provide an overview of the cytopathic mechanism of syncytia formation through viral-mediated expression of fusion proteins, either endogenous or engineered, and their benefits for cancer therapy. Growing evidence indicates that fusogenicity could be an important feature to consider in the design of optimal oncolytic virus platforms for combinatorial oncolytic immunotherapy.

Oncolytic Virotherapy versus Cancer Stem Cells: A Review of Approaches and Mechanisms

A growing body of evidence suggests that a subset of cells within tumors are resistant to conventional treatment modalities and may be responsible for disease recurrence. These cells are called cancer stem cells (CSC), which share properties with normal stem cells including self-renewal, pluripotency, drug resistance, and the ability to maintain quiescence. While most conventional therapies can efficiently destroy rapidly dividing cancer cells comprising the bulk of a tumor, they often fail to kill the less abundant and quiescent CSCs. Furthermore, killing of only differentiated cells in the tumor may actually allow for enrichment of CSCs and thereby portend a bad prognosis. Therefore, targeting of CSCs is important to achieve long-term success in cancer therapy. Oncolytic viruses represent a completely different class of therapeutics that can kill cancer cells in a variety of ways, which differ from those of conventional therapies. Hence, CSCs that are inherently resistant to conventional therapies may be susceptible to oncolytic virus-mediated killing. Recent studies have shown that oncolytic viruses can efficiently kill CSCs in many types of cancer. Here, we discuss the mechanism through which CSCs can escape conventional therapies and how they may still be susceptible to different classes of oncolytic viruses. Furthermore, we provide a summary of recent studies that have tested oncolytic viruses on CSCs of different origins and discuss possible future directions for this fascinating subset of oncolytic virus research.

Oncolytic efficacy of thymidine kinase-deleted vaccinia virus strain Guang9

Oncolytic virotherapy is being developed as a promising platform for cancer therapy due to its ability to lyse cancer cells in a tumor-specific manner. Vaccinia virus has been used as a live vaccine in the smallpox eradication program and now is being potential in cancer therapy with a great safety profile. Vaccinia strain Guang9 (VG9) is an attenuated Chinese vaccinia virus and its oncolytic efficacy has been evaluated in our previous study. To improve the tumor selectivity and oncolytic efficacy, we here developed a thymidine kinase (TK)-deleted vaccinia virus based on Guang9 strain. The viral replication, marker gene expression and cytotoxicity in various cell lines were evaluated; antitumor effects in vivo were assessed in multiple tumor models. In vitro, the TK-deleted vaccinia virus replicated rapidly, but the cytotoxicity varied in different cell lines. It was notably attenuated in normal cells and resting cells in vitro, while tumor-selectively replicated in vivo. Significant antitumor effects were observed both in murine melanoma tumor model and human hepatoma tumor model. It significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously implanted tumors and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Collectively, TK-deleted vaccinia strain Guang9 is a promising constructive virus vector for tumor-directed gene therapy and will be a potential therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.

Combination of Vaccine-Strain Measles and Mumps Viruses Enhances Oncolytic Activity against Human Solid Malignancies

Oncolytic measles and mumps viruses (MeV, MuV) have a potential for anti-cancer treatment. We examined the anti-tumor activity of MeV, MuV, and MeV-MuV combination (MM) against human solid malignancies (HSM). MeV, MuV, and MM targeted and significantly killed various cancer cell lines of HSM but not normal cells. MM demonstrated a greater anti-tumor effect and prolonged survival in a human prostate cancer xenograft tumor model compared to MeV and MuV. MeV, MuV, and MM significantly induced the expression of immunogenic cell death markers and enhanced spleen-infiltrating immune cells. In conclusion, MM combination significantly improves the treatment of human solid malignancies.

Hepatocellular carcinoma-targeting oncolytic adenovirus overcomes hypoxic tumor microenvironment and effectively disperses through both central and peripheral tumor regions

Cancer-specific promoter driven replication of oncolytic adenovirus (Ad) is cancer-specific, but shows low transcriptional activity. Thus, we generated several chimeric α-fetoprotein (AFP) promoter variants, containing reconstituted enhancer and silencer regions, to preferentially drive Ad replication in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Modified AFP promoter, containing 2 enhancer A regions and a single enhancer B region (a2bm), showed strong and HCC-specific transcription. In AFP-positive HCCs, gene expression was 43- to 456-fold higher than those of control AFP promoter lacking enhancers. a2bm promoter was further modified by inserting multiple hypoxia-responsive elements (HRE) to generate Ha2bm promoter, which showed stronger transcriptional activity than a2bm promoter under hypoxic conditions. Ha2bm promoter-regulated oncolytic Ad (Ha2bm-d19) showed a stronger antitumor and proapoptotic effect than did a2bm promoter-regulated oncolytic Ad (a2bm-d19) in HCC xenograft tumors. Systemically administered Ha2bm-d19 caused no observable hepatotoxicity, whereas control replication-competent Ad, lacking cancer specificity (d19), induced significant hepatic damage. Ha2bm-d19 caused significantly lower expression of interleukin-6 than d19, showing that HCC-targeted delivery of Ad attenuates induction of the innate immune response against Ad. This chimeric AFP promoter enabled Ad to overcome the hypoxic tumor microenvironment and target HCC with high specificity, rendering it a promising candidate for the treatment of aggressive HCCs.

Targeting an Oncolytic Influenza A Virus to Tumor Tissue by Elastase

Oncolytic viruses are currently established as a novel type of immunotherapy. The challenge is to safely target oncolytic viruses to tumors. Previously, we have generated influenza A viruses (IAVs) containing deletions in the viral interferon antagonist. Those deletions have attenuated the virus in normal tissue but allowed replication in tumor cells. IAV entry is mediated by hemagglutinin (HA), which needs to be activated by a serine protease, for example, through trypsin. To further target the IAV to tumors, we have changed the trypsin cleavage site to an elastase cleavage site. We chose this cleavage site because elastase is expressed in the tumor microenvironment. Moreover, the exchange of the cleavage site previously has been shown to attenuate viral growth in lungs. Newly generated elastase-activated influenza viruses (AE viruses) grew to similar titers in tumor cells as the trypsin-activated counterparts (AT viruses). Intratumoral injection of AE viruses into syngeneic B16f1 melanoma-derived tumors in mice reduced tumor growth similar to AT viruses and had a better therapeutic effect in heterologous human PANC-1-derived tumors. Therefore, the introduction of the attenuation marker “elastase cleavage site” in viral HA allows for safe, effective oncolytic virus therapy.

Systemic virotherapy for multiple myeloma

INTRODUCTION

The multiple myeloma (MM) treatment scenario has changed considerably over the past few years. Several novel targeted therapies are currently under consideration including oncolytic virotherapy. Areas covered: This review provides an analysis of the mechanisms of action of virotherapy, and summarizes the preclinical and clinical studies of systemic virotherapy developed for the treatment of MM. Different types of viruses have been identified, including: adenovirus, vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus 1, myxoma virus, reovirus, measles virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and coxsackievirus A21. Expert opinion: The above-mentioned viruses can do more than simply infect and kill malignant plasma cells alone or in combination with chemo and/or radiotherapy. In fact, some of them can also be used to purge myeloma cells from an autologous bone marrow (BM) transplant. Further investigations are required to better explore the best therapeutic combinations for MM and to also overcome antiviral response immunity that can limit the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy.

Newcastle Disease Virus Establishes Persistent Infection in Tumor Cells In Vitro: Contribution of the Cleavage Site of Fusion Protein and Second Sialic Acid Binding Site of Hemagglutinin-Neuraminidase

Newcastle disease virus (NDV) is an oncolytic virus being developed for the treatment of cancer. Following infection of a human ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR3) with a recombinant low-pathogenic NDV, persistent infection was established in a subset of tumor cells. Persistently infected (PI) cells exhibited resistance to superinfection with NDV and established an antiviral state, as demonstrated by upregulation of interferon and interferon-induced genes such as myxoma resistance gene 1 (Mx1) and retinoic acid-inducing gene-I (RIG-I). Viruses released from PI cells induced higher cell-to-cell fusion than the parental virus following infection in two tumor cell lines tested, HT1080 and HeLa, and remained attenuated in chickens. Two mutations, one in the fusion (F) protein cleavage site, F117S (F_117S), and another in hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN), G169R (HN_169R), located in the second sialic acid binding region, were responsible for the hyperfusogenic phenotype. F_117S improves F protein cleavage efficiency, facilitating cell-to-cell fusion, while HN_169R possesses a multifaceted role in contributing to higher fusion, reduced receptor binding, and lower neuraminidase activity, which together result in increased fusion and reduced viral replication. Thus, establishment of persistent infection in vitro involves viral genetic changes that facilitate efficient viral spread from cell to cell as a potential mechanism to escape host antiviral responses. The results of our study also demonstrate a critical role in the viral life cycle for the second receptor binding region of the HN protein, which is conserved in several paramyxoviruses.IMPORTANCE Oncolytic Newcastle disease virus (NDV) could establish persistent infection in a tumor cell line, resulting in a steady antiviral state reflected by constitutively expressed interferon. Viruses isolated from persistently infected cells are highly fusogenic, and this phenotype has been mapped to two mutations, one each in the fusion (F) and hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) proteins. The F_117S mutation in the F protein cleavage site improved F protein cleavage efficiency while the HN_169R mutation located at the second receptor binding site of the HN protein contributed to a complex phenotype consisting of a modest increase in fusion and cell killing, lower neuraminidase activity, and reduced viral growth. This study highlights the intricate nature of these two mutations in the glycoproteins of NDV in the establishment of persistent infection. The data also shed light on the critical balance between the F and HN proteins required for efficient NDV infection and their role in avian pathogenicity.

Oncolytic immunotherapy: unlocking the potential of viruses to help target cancer

Oncolytic immunotherapy is a research area of cancer immunotherapy investigating the use of modified viruses to target cancer cells. A variety of different viral backbones (e.g., adenovirus, reovirus) with a diverse range of genetic modifications are currently being investigated for the treatment of a variety of cancers. The oncolytic virus that has advanced the furthest in clinical development is talimogene laherparepvec, a recombinant HSV-1 virus expressing granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In a phase 3 study in patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma, intralesional talimogene laherparepvec treatment resulted in a higher durable response rate compared with subcutaneous GM-CSF treatment (16.3 versus 2.1%; P < 0.001). Notably, responses were observed at uninjected lesions including visceral lesions, indicating a systemic antitumor response had occurred. Studies evaluating combination treatments involving oncolytic viruses and immunologic agents are ongoing. This review focuses on the mechanisms of action for oncolytic viruses and highlights select agents and combinations currently in development.

Tanapoxvirus lacking a neuregulin-like gene regresses human melanoma tumors in nude mice

Neuregulin (NRG), an epidermal growth factor is known to promote the growth of various cell types, including human melanoma cells through ErbB family of tyrosine kinases receptors. Tanapoxvirus (TPV)-encoded protein TPV-15L, a functional mimic of NRG, also acts through ErbB receptors. Here, we show that the TPV-15L protein promotes melanoma proliferation. TPV recombinant generated by deleting the 15L gene (TPVΔ15L) showed replication ability similar to that of wild-type TPV (wtTPV) in owl monkey kidney cells, human lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells, and human melanoma (SK-MEL-3) cells. However, a TPV recombinant with both 15L and the thymidine kinase (TK) gene 66R ablated (TPVΔ15LΔ66R) replicated less efficiently compared to TPVΔ15L and the parental virus. TPVΔ15L exhibited more robust tumor regression in the melanoma-bearing nude mice compared to other TPV recombinants. Our results indicate that deletion of TPV-15L gene product which facilitates the growth of human melanoma cells can be an effective strategy to enhance the oncolytic potential of TPV for the treatment of melanoma.

Toward a world of theranostic medication: Programming biological sentinel systems for therapeutic intervention

Theranostic systems support diagnostic and therapeutic functions in a single integrated entity and enable precise spatiotemporal control of the generation of therapeutic molecules according to the individual patient's disease state, thereby maximizing the therapeutic outcome and minimizing side effects. These systems can also incorporate reporter systems equipped with a disease-sensing module that can be used to estimate the efficacy of treatment in vivo. Among these reporter systems, biological sentinel systems, such as viruses, bacteria, and mammalian cells, have great potential for use in the development of novel theranostic systems because of their ability to sense a variety of disease markers and secrete various therapeutic molecules. Furthermore, recent advances in biotechnology and synthetic biology have made it possible to treat these biological systems as true programmable entities capable of conducting complex operations, to accurately identify each individual patient's disease state. In this review, we introduce the basic design principles of these rapidly expanding classes of biological sentinel system-based theranostic agents, with a focus on recent advances, and we also discuss potential enabling technologies that can further improve these systems and provide more sophisticated therapeutic interventions in the near future. In addition, we consider the possibility of synergistic use of theranostic agents that use different modalities and discuss the prospects for next-generation theranostic agents.

Effect of respiratory syncytial virus on the growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cell-lines

In several reports, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified as an oncolytic virus in cancer cells (e.g., lung and prostate cancer). However, the effects of RSV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells have not yet been investigated. Here, we observed the inhibitory effects of RSV infection in HCC cell-lines. Cell growth was significantly decreased by RSV infection in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. After RSV infection, plaque formation and syncytial formation were observed in affected Hep3B and Huh-7 cells. RSV protein-expression was also detected in Hep3B and Huh-7 cells; however, only Huh-7 cells showed apoptosis after RSV infection. Furthermore, inhibition of cell migration by RSV infection was observed in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. Therefore, further investigation is required to clarify the molecular mechanism of RSV-mediated inhibition of HCC cell growth, and to develop potential RSV oncolytic viro-therapeutics. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(10): 565-570]

Oncolytic and immunologic cancer therapy with GM-CSF-armed vaccinia virus of Tian Tan strain Guang9

Targeted oncolytic vaccinia viruses are being developed as a novel strategy in cancer therapy. Arming vaccinia viruses with immunostimulatory cytokines can enhance antitumor efficacy. Such engineered oncolytic viruses, like JX-594, a Wyeth strain vaccinia virus modified with human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), have shown promising results and have proceeded rapidly in clinical trials. However, the oncolytic potential of the Chinese vaccine strain Tian Tan (VTT) has not been explored. In this study, we constructed a targeted oncolytic vaccinia virus of Tian Tan strain Guang9 (VG9) expressing murine GM-CSF (VG9-GMCSF) and evaluated the antitumor effect of this recombinant vaccinia virus in a murine melanoma model. In vitro, viral replication and cytotoxicity of VG9-GMCSF was as potent as VG9; in vivo, VG9-GMCSF significantly inhibited the growth of subcutaneously implanted melanoma tumors, prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice, and produced an antitumor cytotoxic response. Such antitumor effect may be due to the lytic nature of virus as well as the stimulation of immune activity by GM-CSF production. Our results indicate that VG9-GMCSF induces strong tumoricidal activity, providing a potential therapeutic strategy for combating cancer.

Prospect and progress of oncolytic viruses for treating peripheral nerve sheath tumors

INTRODUCTION

Peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are an assorted group of neoplasms originating from neuroectoderm and growing in peripheral nerves. Malignant transformation leads to a poor prognosis and is often lethal. Current treatment of PNSTs is predominantly surgical, which is often incomplete or accompanied by significant loss of function, in conjunction with radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, for which the benefits are inconclusive. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) efficiently kill tumor cells while remaining safe for normal tissues, and are a novel antitumor therapy for patients with PNSTs.

AREAS COVERED

Because of the low efficacy of current treatments, new therapies for PNSTs are needed. Pre-clinically, OVs have demonstrated efficacy in treating PNSTs and perineural tumor invasion, as well as safety. We will discuss the various PNSTs and their preclinical models, and the OVs being tested for their treatment, including oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV), adenovirus (Ad), and measles virus (MV). OVs can be 'armed' to express therapeutic transgenes or combined with other therapeutics to enhance their activity.

EXPERT OPINION

Preclinical testing of OVs in PNST models has demonstrated their therapeutic potential and provided support for clinical translation. Clinical studies with other solid tumors have provided evidence that OVs are safe in patients and efficacious. The recent successful completion of a phase III clinical trial of oncolytic HSV paves the way for oncolytic virotherapy to enter clinical practice.

Viral gene therapy for head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

Viral gene therapy is a promising new treatment modality for head and neck cancer. This paper provides the reader with a review of the relevant literature in this field.

RESULTS

There are government licensed viral gene therapy products currently in use for head and neck cancer, utilised in conjunction with established treatment modalities. The viruses target tumour-associated genes, with the first licensed virus replacing p53 gene function, which is frequently lost in tumourigenesis. Oncolytic viruses selectively destroy cancer cells through viral replication and can be armed with therapeutic transgenes.

CONCLUSION

Despite considerable advances in this field over the last 40 years, further research is needed to improve the overall efficacy of the viruses and allow their widespread utilisation in the management of head and neck cancer.

Inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of Newcastle disease virus strain AF2240 on mammary carcinoma cell line

Breast cancer is the malignant tumour that developed from cells of the breast and is the first leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the available treatments for breast cancer, but these were reported to have side effects. Newcastle disease virus (NDV) known as Avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV1) belongs to the genus Avulavirus in a family Paramyxoviridae. NDV is shown to be a promising anticancer agent, killing tumour cells while sparing normal cells unharmed. In this study, the oncolytic and cytotoxic activities of NDV AF2240 strain were evaluated on MDA-MB-231, human mammary carcinoma cell line, using MTT assay, and its inhibitory effects were further studied using proliferation and migration assays. Morphological and apoptotic-inducing effects of NDV on MD-MB-231 cells were observed using phase contrast and fluorescence microscopes. Detection of DNA fragmentation was done following terminal deoxyribonucleotide transferase-mediated Br-dUTP nick end labeling staining (TUNEL) assay, which confirmed that the mode of death was through apoptosis and was quantified by flow cytometry. Furthermore, analysis of cellular DNA content demonstrated that the virus caused an increase in the sub-G1 phase (apoptotic peak) of the cell cycle. It appears that NDV AF2240 strain is a potent anticancer agent that induced apoptosis in time-dependent manner.

Oncolytic tanapoxvirus expressing FliC causes regression of human colorectal cancer xenografts in nude mice

Colorectal cancers are significant causes of morbidity and mortality and existing therapies often perform poorly for individuals afflicted with advanced disease. Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging therapeutic modality with great promise for addressing this medical need. Herein we describe the in vivo testing of recombinant variants of the tanapoxvirus (TPV). Recombinant viruses were made ablated for either the 66R gene (encoding a thymidine kinase), the 2L gene (encoding a TNF-binding protein), or both. Some of the recombinants were armed to express mouse chemotactic protein 1 (mCCL2/mMCP-1), mouse granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (mGM-CSF), or bacterial flagellin (FliC). Tumors were induced in athymic nude mice by implantation of HCT 116 cells and subsequently treated by a single intratumoral injection of one of the recombinant TPVs. Histological examination showed a common neoplastic cell type and a range of immune cell infiltration, necrosis, and tumor cell organization. Significant regression was seen in tumors treated with virus TPV/Δ2L/Δ66R/fliC, and to a lesser extent the recombinants TPV/Δ2L and TPV/Δ66R. Our results suggest that oncolytic recombinants of the TPV armed with activators of the innate immune response may be effective virotherapeutic agents for colorectal cancers in humans and should be explored further to fully realize their potential.

Newcastle disease virus interaction in targeted therapy against proliferation and invasion pathways of glioblastoma multiforme

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), or grade IV glioma, is one of the most lethal forms of human brain cancer. Current bioscience has begun to depict more clearly the signalling pathways that are responsible for high-grade glioma initiation, migration, and invasion, opening the door for molecular-based targeted therapy. As such, the application of viruses such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV) as a novel biological bullet to specifically target aberrant signalling in GBM has brought new hope. The abnormal proliferation and aggressive invasion behaviour of GBM is reported to be associated with aberrant Rac1 protein signalling. NDV interacts with Rac1 upon viral entry, syncytium induction, and actin reorganization of the infected cell as part of the replication process. Ultimately, intracellular stress leads the infected glioma cell to undergo cell death. In this review, we describe the characteristics of malignant glioma and the aberrant genetics that drive its aggressive phenotype, and we focus on the use of oncolytic NDV in GBM-targeted therapy and the interaction of NDV in GBM signalling that leads to inhibition of GBM proliferation and invasion, and subsequently, cell death.

Adenoviral vectors for prodrug activation-based gene therapy for cancer

Cancer cell heterogeneity is a common feature - both between patients diagnosed with the same cancer and within an individual patient's tumor - and leads to widely different response rates to cancer therapies and the potential for the emergence of drug resistance. Diverse therapeutic approaches have been developed to combat the complexity of cancer, including individual treatment modalities designed to target tumor heterogeneity. This review discusses adenoviral vectors and how they can be modified to replicate in a cancer-specific manner and deliver therapeutic genes under multi-tiered regulation to target tumor heterogeneity, including heterogeneity associated with cancer stem cell-like subpopulations. Strategies that allow for combination of prodrug-activation gene therapy with a novel replication-conditional, heterogeneous tumor-targeting adenovirus are discussed, as are the benefits of using adenoviral vectors as tumor-targeting oncolytic vectors. While the anticancer activity of many adenoviral vectors has been well established in preclinical studies, only limited successes have been achieved in the clinic, indicating a need for further improvements in activity, specificity, tumor cell delivery and avoidance of immunogenicity.

Permissiveness of human cancer cells to oncolytic bovine herpesvirus 1 is mediated in part by KRAS activity

Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are attractive avenues of cancer therapy due to the absence of toxic side effects often seen with current treatment modalities. Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1) is a species-specific virus that does not induce cytotoxicity in normal primary human cells but can infect and kill various human immortalized and transformed cell lines. To gain a better understanding of the oncolytic breadth of BHV-1, the NCI panel of established human tumor cell lines was screened for sensitivity to the virus. Overall, 72% of the panel is permissive to BHV-1 infection, with corresponding decreases in cellular viability. This sensitivity is in comparison to a sensitivity of only 32% for a herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)-based oncolytic vector. Strikingly, while 35% of the panel supports minimal or no BHV-1 replication, significant decreases in cellular viability still occur. These data suggest that BHV-1 is an OV with tropism for multiple tumor types and is able to induce cytotoxicity independent of significant virus replication. In contrast to other species-specific OVs, cellular sensitivity to BHV-1 does not correlate with type I interferon (IFN) signaling; however, mutations in KRAS were found to correlate with high levels of virus replication. The knockdown or overexpression of KRAS in human tumor cell lines yields modest changes in viral titers; however, overexpression of KRAS in normal primary cells elicits permissivity to BHV-1 infection. Together, these data suggest that BHV-1 is a broad-spectrum OV with a distinct mechanism of tumor targeting.

IMPORTANCE

Cancer remains a significant health issue, and novel treatments are required, particularly for tumors that are refractory to conventional therapies. Oncolytic viruses are a novel platform given their ability to specifically target tumor cells while leaving healthy cells intact. For this strategy to be successful, a fundamental understanding of virus-host interactions is required. We previously identified bovine herpesvirus 1 as a novel oncolytic virus with many unique and clinically relevant features. Here, we show that BHV-1 can target a wide range of human cancer types, most potently lung cancer. In addition, we show that enhanced KRAS activity, a hallmark of many cancers, is one of the factors that increases BHV-1 oncolytic capacity. These findings hold potential for future treatments, particularly in the context of lung cancer, where KRAS mutations are a negative predictor of treatment efficacy.

Anticancer gene transfer for cancer gene therapy

Gene therapy vectors are among the treatments currently used to treat malignant tumors. Gene therapy vectors use a specific therapeutic transgene that causes death in cancer cells. In early attempts at gene therapy, therapeutic transgenes were driven by non-specific vectors which induced toxicity to normal cells in addition to the cancer cells. Recently, novel cancer specific viral vectors have been developed that target cancer cells leaving normal cells unharmed. Here we review such cancer specific gene therapy systems currently used in the treatment of cancer and discuss the major challenges and future directions in this field.

Evolution of oncolytic viruses: novel strategies for cancer treatment

Many viruses have documented oncolytic activity, with the first evidence observed clinically over a decade ago. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the field of oncolytic viruses. Viruses may be innately oncotropic, lacking the ability to cause disease in people or they may require engineering to allow selective tumor targeting and attenuation of pathogenicity. Following infection of a neoplastic cell, several events may occur, including direct viral oncolysis, apoptosis, necrotic cell death and autophagic cellular demise. Of late, a large body of work has recognized the ability of oncolytic viruses (OVs) to activate the innate and adaptive immune system, as well as directly killing tumors. The production of viruses expressing transgenes encoding for cytokines, colony-stimulating factors, costimulatory molecules and tumor-associated antigens has been able to further incite immune responses against target tumors. Multiple OVs are now in the advanced stages of clinical trials, with several individual viruses having completed their respective trials with positive results. This review introduces the multiple mechanisms by which OVs are able to act as an antineoplastic therapy, either on their own or in combination with other more traditional treatment modalities. The full benefit and the place where OVs will be integrated into standard-of-care therapies will be determined with ongoing studies ranging from the laboratory to the patient. With various different viruses now in the clinic this therapeutic option is beginning to prove its worth, and the versatility of these agents means further innovative and novel applications will continue to be developed.

Canine parvovirus type 2a (CPV-2a)-induced apoptosis in MDCK involves both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways

The canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) causes an acute disease in dogs. It has been found to induce cell cycle arrest and DNA damage leading to cellular lysis. In this paper, we evaluated the apoptotic potential of the "new CPV-2a" in MDCK cells and elucidated the mechanism of the induction of apoptosis. The exposure of MDCK cells to the virus was found to trigger apoptotic response. Apoptosis was confirmed by phosphatidylserine translocation, DNA fragmentation assays, and cell cycle analysis. Activation of caspases-3, -8, -9, and -12 and decrease in mitochondrial potential in CPV-2a-infected MDCK cells suggested that the CPV-2a-induced apoptosis is caspase dependent involving extrinsic, intrinsic, and endoplasmic reticulum pathways. Increase in p53 and Bax/Bcl2 ratio was also observed in CPV-2a-infected cells.

Recombination of replicon and helper RNAs and the emergence of propagation-competent vectors upon Sindbis virus vector production

Sindbis vectors have shown remarkable antitumor efficacy and tumor-targeting capacity in animal models and hold promise for cancer therapy. Different packaging systems are used to produce propagation-incompetent Sindbis vectors. However, the vectors produced using either DH-BB single helper RNA or split helper RNA can spread in permissive cell cultures. We investigated the mechanisms of vector spreading and show, here, that recombination occurs between the replicon and DH-BB helper RNA, leading to formation of the full-length virus genome. Split helper RNA may not completely prevent wild-type reversion, although the frequency is greatly reduced. Contrary to propagation of Sindbis DH-BB vectors, Sindbis split helper vectors were frequently able to spread without cytopathic effect (CPE), a feature that was linked to wild-type reversion. Our results support the hypothesis that the non-cytopathic local spreading constantly observed with Sindbis split helper vector results from unspecific packaging of helper RNAs into vector particles and co-infection with particles containing replicon and helper RNAs. Several malignant cell lines with defective interferon responses were found to be permissive for non-cytopathic spreading of the Sindbis split helper vector. Interferon-α suppressed the spreading providing a possible option to control the vector.

Viability reduction and Rac1 gene downregulation of heterogeneous ex-vivo glioma acute slice infected by the oncolytic Newcastle disease virus strain V4UPM

Oncolytic viruses have been extensively evaluated for anticancer therapy because this virus preferentially infects cancer cells without interfering with normal cells. Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) is an avian virus and one of the intensively studied oncolytic viruses affecting many types of cancer including glioma. Nevertheless, the capability of NDV infection on heterogeneous glioma tissue in a cerebrospinal fluid atmosphere has never been reported. Recently, Rac1 is reported to be required for efficient NDV replication in human cancer cells and established a link between tumourigenesis and sensitivity to NDV. Rac1 is a member of the Rho GTPases involved in the regulation of the cell migration and cell-cycle progression. Rac1 knockdown leads to significant inhibition of viral replication. In this work, we demonstrated that NDV treatment led to significant reduction of tumour tissue viability of freshly isolated heterogeneous human brain tumour slice, known as an ex vivo glioma acute slice (EGAS). Analysis of gene expression indicated that reduced tissue viability was associated with downregulation of Rac1. However, the viability reduction was not persistent. We conclude that NDV treatment induced EGAS viability suppression, but subsequent downregulation of Rac1 gene may reduce the NDV replication and lead to regrowth of EGAS tissue.

Apoptosis induced by NS1 gene of Canine Parvovirus-2 is caspase dependent and p53 independent

Apoptosis is programmed cell death that normally occurs during development and aging in multicellular animals. Apoptosis also occurs as a defense mechanism against disease or harmful external agents. It can be initiated by a variety of stimuli including viruses and viral proteins. Canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) that causes acute disease in dogs has been found to induce cell cycle arrest and DNA damage leading to cellular lysis. Though non structural protein 1 (NS1) of many parvoviruses has been found to be apoptotic, no report on the apoptotic potential of NS1 of CPV-2 (CPV-2.NS1) exists. In this study, we evaluated the apoptotic potential of CPV-2.NS1 in HeLa cells. CPV-2.NS1 has been found to induce apoptosis which was evident through characteristic DNA fragmentation, increase in hypodiploid cell count, phosphatidyl serine translocation and activation of caspase-3. Increase in caspase-3 activity and no change in p53 activity with time in CPV-2.NS1 expressing HeLa cells showed the induction of apoptosis to be caspase dependent and p53 independent.

Potent antitumoral effects of targeted promoter-driven oncolytic adenovirus armed with Dm-dNK for breast cancer in vitro and in vivo

Currently, no curative treatments are available for late-stage metastatic or recurrent breast cancer, because the cancer tolerates both chemotherapy and endocrine therapy. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of a dual-regulated oncolytic adenoviral vector with a novel suicide gene to treat breast cancer. Following targeted gene virotherapy of conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds), the novel suicide gene of multisubstrate deoxyribonucleoside kinase of Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-DNK) was inserted into the double-regulated oncolytic adenovirus SG500 to ensure more safety and enhanced antitumor activity against breast cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Selective replication, cell-killing efficacy, and cytotoxicity, combined with chemotherapeutics were investigated in several breast cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7), normal cells (WI-38 and MRC-5), and human (MDA-MB-231) tumor models in vivo. The double-regulated SG500-dNK had high cell-killing activity in breast cancer. Replication was similar to wild-type in breast cells and was attenuated in normal cells. SG500-dNK combined with the chemotherapeutics (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine (Bvdu) and 2',2'-difluoro-deoxycytidine (dFdC) resulted in synergistically enhanced cell killing and greatly improved antitumor efficacy in vitro or in breast xenografts in vivo. These data suggest that the novel oncolytic variant SG500-dNK is a promising candidate for targeting breast tumors specifically when combined with chemotherapeutics.

Virotherapy using a novel chimeric oncolytic adenovirus prolongs survival in a human pancreatic cancer xenograft model

INTRODUCTION

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy. Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ads) are modified genetically to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. We modified the knob domain of the Ad serotype 5 with a serotype 3 knob domain and incorporated the CXCR4 promoter to regulate Ad E1A gene expression (Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A). These modifications were made to efficiently infect and lyse pancreatic tumors.

METHODS

Human pancreatic cancer lines CFPAC-1, PANC-1, AsPC-1, and BxPC-3 were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. Efficiency of Ad infection in the cells was determined by the use of an Ad construct expressing the green fluorescence protein (GFP) marker in place of the E1A gene (Ad5/3-CXCR4-GFP) and quantified by flow cytometry. Oncolytic activity in the pancreatic cancer cells was determined with the Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A oncolytic Ad by a crystal violet staining method. To determine the oncolytic effect in vivo, pancreatic cancer cells were implanted on the flanks of 40 SCID mice (4 groups). Tumors were injected intratumorally for 3 days with Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A, Ad5 wild-type (a positive control), or phosphate-buffered saline (a no virus control). Tumor size, overall survival, and body condition scale score were recorded. Statistical analyses included the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, the log-rank test, and one-way analysis of variance.

RESULTS

The serotype 3 fiber-modified Ad with the CXCR4 promoter (Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A) was most efficient in infecting and lysing pancreatic cancer cells compared with an Ad containing an unmodified fiber knob (Ad5-CXCR4-E1A). Treatment of pancreatic tumor xenografts in vivo with Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A group resulted in smaller tumors (P = .001), greater body condition scale score (P = .01), and greater survival time (P = .04) than the other treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Ad5/3-CXCR4-E1A treatment significantly prolonged survival in SCID mice pancreatic tumor xenografts. This novel construct represents a potential new therapy against pancreatic cancer.