1
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Bazan-Peregrino M, Garcia-Carbonero R, Laquente B, Álvarez R, Mato-Berciano A, Gimenez-Alejandre M, Morgado S, Rodríguez-García A, Maliandi MV, Riesco MC, Moreno R, Ginestà MM, Perez-Carreras M, Gornals JB, Prados S, Perea S, Capella G, Alemany R, Salazar R, Blasi E, Blasco C, Cascallo M, Hidalgo M. VCN-01 disrupts pancreatic cancer stroma and exerts antitumor effects. J Immunother Cancer 2022; 9:jitc-2021-003254. [PMID: 35149591 PMCID: PMC8578996 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by dense desmoplastic stroma that limits the delivery of anticancer agents. VCN-01 is an oncolytic adenovirus designed to replicate in cancer cells with a dysfunctional RB1 pathway and express hyaluronidase. Here, we evaluated the mechanism of action of VCN-01 in preclinical models and in patients with pancreatic cancer. Methods VCN-01 replication and antitumor efficacy were evaluated alone and in combination with standard chemotherapy in immunodeficient and immunocompetent preclinical models using intravenous or intratumoral administration. Hyaluronidase activity was evaluated by histochemical staining and by measuring drug delivery into tumors. In a proof-of-concept clinical trial, VCN-01 was administered intratumorally to patients with PDAC at doses up to 1×1011 viral particles in combination with chemotherapy. Hyaluronidase expression was measured in serum by an ELISA and its activity within tumors by endoscopic ultrasound elastography. Results VCN-01 replicated in PDAC models and exerted antitumor effects which were improved when combined with chemotherapy. Hyaluronidase expression by VCN-01 degraded tumor stroma and facilitated delivery of a variety of therapeutic agents such as chemotherapy and therapeutic antibodies. Clinically, treatment was generally well-tolerated and resulted in disease stabilization of injected lesions. VCN-01 was detected in blood as secondary peaks and in post-treatment tumor biopsies, indicating virus replication. Patients had increasing levels of hyaluronidase in sera over time and decreased tumor stiffness, suggesting stromal disruption. Conclusions VCN-01 is an oncolytic adenovirus with direct antitumor effects and stromal disruption capabilities, representing a new therapeutic agent for cancers with dense stroma. Trial registration number EudraCT number: 2012-005556-42 and NCT02045589.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rocio Garcia-Carbonero
- Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Imas12, UCM, CNIO, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Berta Laquente
- Medical Oncology Department, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d' Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain
| | - Rafael Álvarez
- Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Oña 10, 28050, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Sara Morgado
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, 08174, Spain
| | - Alba Rodríguez-García
- Virotherapy and Gene Therapy Group, Oncobell and ProCure Programs, IDIBELL-Instituto Catalan d'Oncología, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Hematology and Oncology, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - M Carmen Riesco
- Oncology Department, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Imas12, UCM, CNIO, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafael Moreno
- Virotherapy and Gene Therapy Group, Oncobell and ProCure Programs, IDIBELL-Instituto Catalan d'Oncología, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mireia M Ginestà
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Oncobell Program, CIBERONC, IDIBELL-Instituto Catalan d'Oncología, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mercedes Perez-Carreras
- Endoscopic Unit, Servicio Aparato Digestivo, University Hospital 12 De Octubre, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan B Gornals
- Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, Universitat de Barcelona, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Prados
- Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Oña 10, 28050, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sofía Perea
- Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Oña 10, 28050, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gabriel Capella
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Oncobell Program, CIBERONC, IDIBELL-Instituto Catalan d'Oncología, l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Alemany
- Virotherapy and Gene Therapy Group, Oncobell and ProCure Programs, IDIBELL-Instituto Catalan d'Oncología, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Salazar
- Medical Oncology Department, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d' Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, 08908, Spain
| | - Emma Blasi
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, 08174, Spain
| | - Carmen Blasco
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, 08174, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, 08174, Spain
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Centro Integral Oncológico Clara Campal (CIOCC), Oña 10, 28050, Madrid, Spain .,Div. of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
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2
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Mato-Berciano A, Morgado S, Maliandi MV, Farrera-Sal M, Gimenez-Alejandre M, Ginestà MM, Moreno R, Torres-Manjon S, Moreno P, Arias-Badia M, Rojas LA, Capellà G, Alemany R, Cascallo M, Bazan-Peregrino M. Oncolytic adenovirus with hyaluronidase activity that evades neutralizing antibodies: VCN-11. J Control Release 2021; 332:517-528. [PMID: 33675877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tumor targeting and intratumoral virus spreading are key features for successful oncolytic virotherapy. VCN-11 is a novel oncolytic adenovirus, genetically modified to express hyaluronidase (PH20) and display an albumin-binding domain (ABD) on the hexon. ABD allows the virus to self-coat with albumin when entering the bloodstream and evade neutralizing antibodies (NAbs). Here, we validate VCN-11 mechanism of action and characterize its toxicity. VCN-11 replication, hyaluronidase activity and binding to human albumin to evade NAbs was evaluated. Toxicity and efficacy of VCN-11 were assessed in mice and hamsters. Tumor targeting, and antitumor activity was analyzed in the presence of NAbs in several tumor models. VCN-11 induced 450 times more cytotoxicity in tumor cells than in normal cells. VCN-11 hyaluronidase production was confirmed by measuring PH20 activity in vitro and in virus-infected tumor areas in vivo. VCN-11 evaded NAbs from different sources and tumor targeting was demonstrated in the presence of high levels of NAbs in vivo, whereas the control virus without ABD was neutralized. VCN-11 showed a low toxicity profile in athymic nude mice and Syrian hamsters, allowing treatments with high doses and fractionated administrations without major toxicities (up to 1.2x1011vp/mouse and 7.5x1011vp/hamster). Fractionated intravenous administrations improved circulation kinetics and tumor targeting. VCN-11 antitumor efficacy was demonstrated in the presence of NAbs against Ad5 and itself. Oncolytic adenovirus VCN-11 disrupts tumor matrix and displays antitumor effects even in the presence of NAbs. These features make VCN-11 a safe promising candidate to test re-administration in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sara Morgado
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Martí Farrera-Sal
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Virotherapy and Immunotherapy Group, ProCURE Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology - ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | | | - Mireia M Ginestà
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology- ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Moreno
- Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Virotherapy and Immunotherapy Group, ProCURE Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology - ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Silvia Torres-Manjon
- Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Virotherapy and Immunotherapy Group, ProCURE Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology - ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Paz Moreno
- Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | | | - Luis A Rojas
- Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Virotherapy and Immunotherapy Group, ProCURE Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology - ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Gabriel Capellà
- Hereditary Cancer Program, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology- ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; CIBERONC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramon Alemany
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Cancer Virotherapy Group, Oncobell Program, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge - IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain; Virotherapy and Immunotherapy Group, ProCURE Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology - ICO, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
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3
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Garcia-Moure M, Martinez-Velez N, Gonzalez-Huarriz M, Marrodán L, Cascallo M, Alemany R, Patiño-García A, Alonso MM. The oncolytic adenovirus VCN-01 promotes anti-tumor effect in primitive neuroectodermal tumor models. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14368. [PMID: 31591461 PMCID: PMC6779892 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51014-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Last advances in the treatment of pediatric tumors has led to an increase of survival rates of children affected by primitive neuroectodermal tumors, however, still a significant amount of the patients do not overcome the disease. In addition, the survivors might suffer from severe side effects caused by the current standard treatments. Oncolytic virotherapy has emerged in the last years as a promising alternative for the treatment of solid tumors. In this work, we study the anti-tumor effect mediated by the oncolytic adenovirus VCN-01 in CNS-PNET models. VCN-01 is able to infect and replicate in PNET cell cultures, leading to a cytotoxicity and immunogenic cell death. In vivo, VCN-01 increased significantly the median survival of mice and led to long-term survivors in two orthotopic models of PNETs. In summary, these results underscore the therapeutic effect of VCN-01 for rare pediatric cancers such as PNETs, and warrants further exploration on the use of this virus to treat them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Garcia-Moure
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Naiara Martinez-Velez
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Marisol Gonzalez-Huarriz
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Lucía Marrodán
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallés, 08174, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Alemany
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catalá d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Patiño-García
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain.,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain.,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain
| | - Marta M Alonso
- Navarra's Health Research Institute (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. .,Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. .,Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, 31008, Spain.
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4
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Garcia-Carbonero R, Gil Martín M, Alvarez Gallego R, Macarulla Mercade T, Riesco Martinez M, Guillen-Ponce C, Vidal N, Real F, Moreno R, Maliandi V, Mato-Berciano A, Bazan-Peregrino M, Capella G, Alemany R, Blasi E, Blasco C, Cascallo M, Salazar R. Systemic administration of the hyaluronidase-expressing oncolytic adenovirus VCN-01 in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: First-in-human clinical trial. Ann Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz247.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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5
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Hidalgo M, Bazan-Peregrino M, Laquente B, Gallego RA, Mato-Berciano A, Giménez-Alejandre M, Maliandi V, Martinez MCR, Moreno R, Morell M, Perez-Carreras M, Gornals J, Prados S, Capella G, Alemany R, Salazar R, Blasi E, Blasco C, Cascallo M, Garcia-Carbonero R. Proof of concept clinical study by US-guided intratumor injection of VCN-01, an oncolytic adenovirus expressing hyaluronidase in patients with pancreatic cancer. Ann Oncol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz244.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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6
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Garcia M, Moreno R, Gil M, Cascallo M, de Olza MO, Cuadra C, Piulat JM, Navarro V, Domenech M, Alemany R, Salazar R. A phase I trial of oncolytic adenovirus ICOVIR-5 administered intravenously to melanoma patients. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2018. [DOI: 10.1089/humc.2018.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Garcia
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Clinical Research Unit, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Rafael Moreno
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, ProCure and Oncobell Programs, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Marta Gil
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Department of Medical Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Valles, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Ochoa de Olza
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Department of Medical Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Carmen Cuadra
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Clinical Research Unit, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Josep Maria Piulat
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Department of Medical Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Valentin Navarro
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Clinical Research Unit, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Marta Domenech
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Department of Medical Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Ramon Alemany
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, ProCure and Oncobell Programs, L’Hospitalet, Spain
| | - Ramon Salazar
- Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, Department of Medical Oncology, L’Hospitalet, Spain
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7
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Vera B, Martínez-Vélez N, Xipell E, Acanda de la Rocha A, Patiño-García A, Castresana JS, Gonzalez-Huarriz M, Cascallo M, Alemany R, Alonso MM. Correction: Characterization of the Antiglioma Effect of the Oncolytic Adenovirus VCN-01. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0157619. [PMID: 27280773 PMCID: PMC4900591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147211.].
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8
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Vera B, Martínez-Vélez N, Xipell E, Acanda de la Rocha A, Patiño-García A, Saez-Castresana J, Gonzalez-Huarriz M, Cascallo M, Alemany R, Alonso MM. Characterization of the Antiglioma Effect of the Oncolytic Adenovirus VCN-01. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0147211. [PMID: 26808201 PMCID: PMC4726573 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the recent advances in the development of antitumor therapies, the prognosis for patients with malignant gliomas remains dismal. Therapy with tumor-selective viruses is emerging as a treatment option for this devastating disease. In this study we characterize the anti-glioma effect of VCN-01, an improved hyaluronidase-armed pRB-pathway-selective oncolytic adenovirus that has proven safe and effective in the treatment of several solid tumors. VCN-01 displayed a significant cytotoxic effect on glioma cells in vitro. In vivo, in two different orthotopic glioma models, a single intra-tumoral administration of VCN-01 increased overall survival significantly and led to long-term survivors free of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Vera
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Naiara Martínez-Vélez
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Enric Xipell
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Arlet Acanda de la Rocha
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Ana Patiño-García
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Javier Saez-Castresana
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Brain Tumor Biology Unit, University of Navarra School of Sciences, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marisol Gonzalez-Huarriz
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallés, 08174 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Alemany
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catalá d’Oncologia, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta M. Alonso
- Navarra’s Health Research Institute (IDISNA) Pamplona, Spain
- Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain
- Dpt of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona 31008, Spain
- * E-mail:
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9
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Martínez-Vélez N, Xipell E, Vera B, Acanda de la Rocha A, Zalacain M, Marrodán L, Gonzalez-Huarriz M, Toledo G, Cascallo M, Alemany R, Patiño A, Alonso MM. The Oncolytic Adenovirus VCN-01 as Therapeutic Approach Against Pediatric Osteosarcoma. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 22:2217-25. [PMID: 26603261 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-1899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. Despite aggressive chemotherapy, more than 30% of patients do not respond and develop bone or lung metastasis. Oncolytic adenoviruses engineered to specifically destroy cancer cells are a feasible option for osteosarcoma treatment. VCN-01 is a replication-competent adenovirus specifically engineered to replicate in tumors with a defective RB pathway, presents an enhanced infectivity through a modified fiber and an improved distribution through the expression of a soluble hyaluronidase. The aim of this study is to elucidate whether the use of VCN-01 would be an effective therapeutic strategy for pediatric osteosarcoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We used osteosarcoma cell lines established from patients with metastatic disease (531MII, 678R, 588M, and 595M) and a commercial cell line (143B). MTT assays were carried out to evaluate the cytotoxicity of VCN-01. Hexon assays were used to evaluate the replication of the virus. Western blot analysis was performed to assess the expression levels of viral proteins and autophagic markers. The antitumor effect of VCN-01 was evaluated in orthotopic and metastatic osteosarcoma murine animal models. RESULTS This study found that VCN-01, a new generation genetically modified oncolytic adenovirus, administered locally or systemically, had a potent antisarcoma effect in vitro and in vivo in mouse models of intratibial and lung metastatic osteosarcoma. Moreover, VCN-01 administration showed a safe toxicity profile. CONCLUSIONS These results uncover VCN-01 as a promising strategy for osteosarcoma, setting the bases to propel a phase I/II trial for kids with this disease. Clin Cancer Res; 22(9); 2217-25. ©2015 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiara Martínez-Vélez
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enric Xipell
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Vera
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Arlet Acanda de la Rocha
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta Zalacain
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Lucía Marrodán
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marisol Gonzalez-Huarriz
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Gemma Toledo
- Department of Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- VCN Biosciences, Sant Cugat del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Alemany
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catalá d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Patiño
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Marta M Alonso
- The Health Research Institute of Navarra (IDISNA), Pamplona, Spain. Program in Solid Tumors and Biomarkers, Foundation for the Applied Medical Research, Pamplona, Spain. Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
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10
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Rojas JJ, Gimenez-Alejandre M, Gil-Hoyos R, Cascallo M, Alemany R. Improved systemic antitumor therapy with oncolytic adenoviruses by replacing the fiber shaft HSG-binding domain with RGD. Gene Ther 2011; 19:453-7. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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11
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Alcayaga-Miranda F, Cascallo M, Rojas JJ, Pastor J, Alemany R. Osteosarcoma cells as carriers to allow antitumor activity of canine oncolytic adenovirus in the presence of neutralizing antibodies. Cancer Gene Ther 2010; 17:792-802. [PMID: 20671769 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2010.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OSA) is the most common bone tumor affecting the dog. The veterinary options for therapeutic management of OSA are limited and prognosis for such patients is poor. Oncolytic adenoviruses are attractive tools for experimental therapeutics as they can replicate and spread within tumors to directly induce tumor destruction. However, a major impediment to systemic oncolytic adenoviruses injection is the presence of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (Nabs). In this study, we investigated the effect of a replication-selective canine adenovirus (OCCAV) to treat OSA in the presence of Nabs and the use of canine OSA cells as carrier vehicles for evading Nabs. Our systemic biodistribution data indicated that canine tumor cells could successfully reach the tumor site and deliver OCCAV to tumor cells in an immunized mice model. Furthermore, the use of carrier cells also reduced adenovirus uptake by the liver. Importantly, OCCAV alone was not effective to control tumor growth in a pre-immunized xenograft mouse model. On the contrary, systemic antitumoral activity of carrier-cell OCCAV was evident even in the presence of circulating antibodies, which is a relevant result from a clinical point of view. These findings are of direct translational relevance for the future design of canine clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Alcayaga-Miranda
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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12
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Nokisalmi P, Pesonen S, Escutenaire S, Särkioja M, Raki M, Cerullo V, Laasonen L, Alemany R, Rojas J, Cascallo M, Guse K, Rajecki M, Kangasniemi L, Haavisto E, Karioja-Kallio A, Hannuksela P, Oksanen M, Kanerva A, Joensuu T, Ahtiainen L, Hemminki A. Oncolytic Adenovirus ICOVIR-7 in Patients with Advanced and Refractory Solid Tumors. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:3035-43. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-3167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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13
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Guedan S, Rojas JJ, Gros A, Mercade E, Cascallo M, Alemany R. Hyaluronidase expression by an oncolytic adenovirus enhances its intratumoral spread and suppresses tumor growth. Mol Ther 2010; 18:1275-83. [PMID: 20442708 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful virotherapy requires efficient virus spread within tumors. We tested whether the expression of hyaluronidase, an enzyme which dissociates the extracellular matrix (ECM), could enhance the intratumoral distribution of an oncolytic adenovirus and improve its therapeutic activity. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated that intratumoral coadministration of hyaluronidase in mice-bearing tumor xenografts improves the antitumor activity of an oncolytic adenovirus. Next, we constructed a replication-competent adenovirus expressing a soluble form of the human sperm hyaluronidase (PH20) under the control of the major late promoter (MLP) (AdwtRGD-PH20). Intratumoral treatment of human melanoma xenografts with AdwtRGD-PH20 resulted in degradation of hyaluronan (HA), enhanced viral distribution, and induced tumor regression in all treated tumors. Finally, the PH20 cDNA was inserted in an oncolytic adenovirus that selectively kills pRb pathway-defective tumor cells. The antitumoral activity of the novel oncolytic adenovirus expressing PH20 (ICOVIR17) was compared to that of the parental virus ICOVIR15. ICOVIR17 showed more antitumor efficacy following intratumoral and systemic administration in mice with prestablished tumors, along with an improved spread of the virus within the tumor. Importantly, a single intravenous dose of ICOVIR17 induced tumor regression in 60% of treated tumors. These results indicate that ICOVIR17 is a promising candidate for clinical testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Guedan
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Gros A, Puig C, Guedan S, Rojas JJ, Alemany R, Cascallo M. Verapamil enhances the antitumoral efficacy of oncolytic adenoviruses. Mol Ther 2010; 18:903-11. [PMID: 20179683 PMCID: PMC2890100 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2009] [Accepted: 01/21/2010] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic potential of oncolytic adenoviruses is limited by the rate of adenovirus release. Based on the observation that several viruses induce cell death and progeny release by disrupting intracellular calcium homeostasis, we hypothesized that the alteration in intracellular calcium concentration induced by verapamil could improve the rate of virus release and spread, eventually enhancing the antitumoral activity of oncolytic adenoviruses. Our results indicate that verapamil substantially enhanced the release of adenovirus from a variety of cell types resulting in an improved cell-to-cell spread and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the combination of the systemic administration of an oncolytic adenovirus (ICOVIR-5) with verapamil in vivo greatly improved its antitumoral activity in two different tumor xenograft models without affecting the selectivity of this virus. Overall, our findings indicate that verapamil provides a new, safe, and versatile way to improve the antitumoral potency of oncolytic adenoviruses in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Gros
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Bayo-Puxan N, Gimenez-Alejandre M, Lavilla-Alonso S, Gros A, Cascallo M, Hemminki A, Alemany R. Replacement of Adenovirus Type 5 Fiber Shaft Heparan Sulfate Proteoglycan-Binding Domain with RGD for Improved Tumor Infectivity and Targeting. Hum Gene Ther 2009; 20:1214-21. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2009.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Neus Bayo-Puxan
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Gimenez-Alejandre
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergio Lavilla-Alonso
- University of Helsinki, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Molecular Cancer Biology Program, and Haartman Institute and Finnish Institute for Molecular Medicine, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Alena Gros
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- University of Helsinki, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Molecular Cancer Biology Program, and Haartman Institute and Finnish Institute for Molecular Medicine, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ramon Alemany
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL)-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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16
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Abstract
A critical obstacle for efficient gene therapy and virotherapy of cancer with adenoviral vectors and oncolytic adenoviruses is to target tumor cells in vivo. Recent reports indicate that, contrary to the natural airborne infection of epithelial cells with adenovirus type 5 mediated by coxsackievirus B and adenovirus receptor (CAR) and integrins, blood-borne adenovirus infects hepatocytes mainly through an indirect pathway that involves blood coagulation factors. In this report we have studied whether adenovirus also infects tumor cells in vivo by this pathway. In vitro and in vivo analyses show that vitamin K-dependent coagulation zymogens mediate tumor transduction and that the elimination of these factors abrogates tumor transduction. This finding imposes new challenges to retarget adenoviruses in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gimenez-Alejandre
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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17
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Abstract
Cancer treatment with oncolytic viruses is at a crucial intersection from where two very different routes can be taken. The key role of the immune system needs to be addressed proactively to succeed. An immunocentric point of view posits that the intense immunosuppression induced by tumors can be outbalanced by the natural immunogenicity of viruses. To their advantage, viruses can be safely armed to be even more immunostimulatory. The microbe-associated inflammatory response is optimal for antigen presentation and helps to reveal the hidden tumor antigens. The induced immune effector cells patrol the organs to destroy disseminated tumor cells out of the reach of the oncolytic virus. However, as tumor immunosuppression is localized, this concept needs to be revisited because every tumor focus will have to be reached by the oncolytic virus. By contrast, virocentrics see the immune system as an obstacle to virotherapy. A virus is so immunogenic that it dominates all the elicited immunity to the detriment of a response towards tumor antigens. For them immunosuppression is the way to go, and the intense immunosuppression in and around the tumor is now an advantage, offering a privileged site for virus replication. A better oncolytic virus evades the immune system, but such a virus should be very tumor-selective to be safe. Although the trend favors immunocentrics, clinical results have been more often documented in immunocompromised patients. Trials of comparative interventions on the immune system will validate immunocentrism or virocentrism. What seems clear is that at this intersection one should take one route or the other to overcome the current limitations of virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramon Alemany
- Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO), Av Gran Via s/n Km 2,7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain.
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18
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Abstract
A major obstacle for the efficacy of cancer gene therapy is the need to transduce a high proportion of tumor cells with genes that directly or indirectly cause their death. During the formation of certain organs, cells compete among themselves to colonize the whole tissue. We reasoned that cell competition could be used to increase the proportion of cells that become transfected in a tumor. For this, a transgene that provides a selective advantage to the transfected cells should be used. If the same gene conferred a suicide mechanism the tumor could be eradicated after a period of selection. Bystander effect of transfected cells over neighboring nonmodified cells may eliminate tumors even with incomplete replacement of tumor cells. To test this strategy a competitive advantage was provided to colon cancer cells, using a gene encoding a fusion protein of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and thymidine kinase (TK). DHFR confers resistance to methotrexate (MTX) and TK confers sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV). Modified cells were also transduced with green fluorescent protein and parental cells with red fluorescent protein. In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed, using various proportions of modified cells and applying positive selection with MTX followed by negative selection with GCV. In vitro, cell competition was evident. Under MTX treatment, tumor cells transfected with the DHFR-TK fusion gene efficiently replaced the parental cells (from 0.1 to 90% in 35 days). After this positive selection period, negative selection with GCV eliminated the transfected cells. In vivo, positive selection was also achieved and resulted in a statistically significant therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Martinez-Quintanilla
- Gene and Viral Therapy Group, IDIBELL-Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO) , L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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19
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Matskevich AA, Jung JS, Schümann M, Cascallo M, Moelling K. Vero cells as a model to study the effects of adenoviral gene delivery vectors on the RNAi system in context of viral infection. J Innate Immun 2009; 1:389-94. [PMID: 20375596 DOI: 10.1159/000191408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2008] [Accepted: 10/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Technology based on RNA interference (RNAi) is a promising source for new antiviral therapies. Although the application of RNAi has been studied extensively, significant problems with using RNAi remain. Very few studies have specifically assessed model systems for testing the effects of viruses or gene delivery vectors on the RNAi system. Since viruses have developed efficient strategies to circumvent the interferon (IFN) response, an IFN-deficient model system should be considered. Here we show that in Vero cells, which lack IFN-alpha and IFN-beta genes, knockdown of Dicer, a key RNAi component, led to accelerated death of cells infected with other evolutionary distinct viruses: influenza A virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and poliovirus. We also demonstrate that transduction of Vero cells with adenoviral vector with subsequent infection with influenza A virus also resulted in increased mortality of infected cells. These effects were much weaker in IFN-producing A549 and Hela cell lines. Thus, the Vero cell line could serve as an interesting model for studying the effects of gene delivery vectors on the RNAi system in the context of virus-related disorders.
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20
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Gros A, Martínez-Quintanilla J, Puig C, Guedan S, Molleví DG, Alemany R, Cascallo M. Bioselection of a gain of function mutation that enhances adenovirus 5 release and improves its antitumoral potency. Cancer Res 2008; 68:8928-37. [PMID: 18974137 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-08-1145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Genetic bioselection of a mutagenized Ad5wt stock in human tumor xenografts led us to isolate AdT1, a mutant displaying a large-plaque phenotype in vitro and an enhanced systemic antitumor activity in vivo. AdT1 phenotype correlates with an increased progeny release without affecting total viral yield in different human tumors and cancer-associated fibroblasts. An approach combining hybrid Ad5/AdT1 recombinants and sequencing identified a truncating insertion in the endoplasmic reticulum retention domain of the E3/19K protein (445A mutation) which relocates the protein to the plasma membrane and is responsible for AdT1's enhanced release. E3/19K-445A phenotype does not correlate with the protein's ability to interact with MHC-I or induce apoptosis. Intracellular calcium measurement revealed that the 445A mutation induces extracellular Ca(2+) influx, deregulating intracellular Ca(2+) homeostasis and inducing membrane permeabilization, a viroporin-like function. E3/19K-445A mutants also display enhanced antitumoral activity when injected both intratumorally and systemically in different models in vivo. Our results indicate that the inclusion of mutation 445A in tumor-selective adenoviruses would be a very powerful tool to enhance their antitumor efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alena Gros
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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21
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Gimenez-Alejandre M, Cascallo M, Bayo-Puxan N, Alemany R. Coagulation factors determine tumor transduction in vivo. Hum Gene Ther 2008. [DOI: 10.1089/hgt.2008.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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22
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Guedan S, Gros A, Cascallo M, Vile R, Mercade E, Alemany R. Syncytia formation affects the yield and cytotoxicity of an adenovirus expressing a fusogenic glycoprotein at a late stage of replication. Gene Ther 2008; 15:1240-5. [PMID: 18509378 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2008.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Fusogenic membrane glycoproteins (FMGs) may enhance the cytotoxicity of conditionally replicative adenoviruses. However, expression at early stages of infection impairs virus replication. We have inserted the hyperfusogenic form of the gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) envelope glycoprotein as a new splice unit of the major late promoter (MLP) to generate a replication-competent adenovirus expressing this protein. At high multiplicity of infection (MOI), this virus replicated efficiently forming clumps of fused cells and showing a faster release. In contrast, at low MOI, infected cells formed syncytia where only one nucleus contained virus DNA, decreasing total virus production but increasing cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Guedan
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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23
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Alonso MM, Cascallo M, Gomez-Manzano C, Jiang H, Bekele BN, Perez-Gimenez A, Lang FF, Piao Y, Alemany R, Fueyo J. ICOVIR-5 shows E2F1 addiction and potent antiglioma effect in vivo. Cancer Res 2007; 67:8255-63. [PMID: 17804740 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-4675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During 2007, approximately 200,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with brain tumors. Gliomas account for 77% of primary malignant brain tumors, and the prognosis has hardly changed in the past 20 years, with only 30% of patients with malignant glioma surviving 5 years after diagnosis. Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising therapies for the treatment of gliomas. Here, report the antiglioma activity of the tumor-selective ICOVIR-5 adenovirus, which encompasses an early 1A adenoviral (E1A) deletion in the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein-binding region, substitution of the E1A promoter for E2F-responsive elements, and an RGD-4C peptide motif inserted into the adenoviral fiber to enhance adenoviral tropism. Mechanistic studies showed a dramatic addiction of ICOVIR-5 to the E2F1 oncogene in vitro and in vivo. This addiction was mediated by the occupancy of the ectopic adenoviral E2F1-responsive elements by the endogenous E2F1 protein resulting in high level of E1A expression in cancer cells and potent antiglioma effect. Importantly, we showed for the first time the ability of oncolytic adenoviruses to enhance E2F transcriptional activity in vivo, and we provided direct evidence of the interaction of the E2F1 protein with native and ectopic adenovirus promoters. Restoration of Rb function led to the association of Rb/E2F1 repressor complexes with ICOVIR-5 ectopic E2F1 promoter and subsequent down-modulation of E1A, dramatically impairing adenoviral replication. In xenografted mice, intratumoral injection of ICOVIR-5 resulted in a significant improvement of the median survival (P < 0.0001), and furthermore, led to 37% of long-term survivors free of disease. The antitumor activity of ICOVIR-5 suggests that it has the potential to be an effective agent in the treatment of gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta M Alonso
- Brain Tumor Center, University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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24
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Cascallo M, Alonso MM, Rojas JJ, Perez-Gimenez A, Fueyo J, Alemany R. Systemic toxicity-efficacy profile of ICOVIR-5, a potent and selective oncolytic adenovirus based on the pRB pathway. Mol Ther 2007; 15:1607-15. [PMID: 17579575 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
E2F acts as a transcriptional repressor when bound to unphosphorylated RB during the G(1) or G(0) phase. Upon phosphorylation, E2F is released from the E2F-RB complexes to activate transcription. Tumor cells are characterized by an increase in the level of "free" E2F as a consequence of the absence or hyperphosphorylation of RB. The E2F-1 promoter is a well-characterized E2F-responsive promoter, and it can be used to control adenovirus E1a gene expression as a strategy to achieve tumor-selective expression and replication of an adenovirus. ICOVIR-5 (Ad-DM-E2F-K-Delta24RGD) is an optimized oncolytic adenovirus that combines E1a transcriptional control by an insulated form of the E2F promoter with the Delta24 mutation of E1a to improve the therapeutic index of AdDelta24RGD. ICOVIR-5 also contains the Kozak sequence at the E1a start codon, which is important to restore E1a expression and viral replication to AdwtRGD levels in tumor cells. The unique combination of genetic elements in ICOVIR-5 allows the selectivity for cells with a deregulated E2F-RB pathway to be increased and potent anti-tumoral activity to be maintained. Dose-response toxicological and efficacy studies after a single systemic administration in pre-clinical models in mice are presented to demonstrate that this virus holds promise for treatment of disseminated cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Cascallo
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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25
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Abstract
Deletion of viral functions that can be complemented by the specific phenotype of tumor cells is a common strategy to design oncolytic viruses. For example, enhanced mRNA cytoplasmic export in tumor cells phenocopies the adenovirus E1B-55K function and renders mutants of this protein tumor selective. Also, an activated RB pathway complements specific E1A functions that can be deleted to produce oncolytic viruses. In this paper we demonstrate that an adenoviral mutant deleted in virus-associated I (VAI) and VAII RNAs (Ad-VAdel) has oncotropism characterized by 100-fold replication deficiency compared with wild-type adenovirus in normal cells and an unaffected ability to replicate and kill different types of tumor cells. This mutant also displays active antitumoral activity in vivo. In contrast, this oncotropism is less evident in a mutant expressing an inactive form of VAI (Adsub719) because VAII RNA expression is upregulated. The mRNA translation promoted by VA RNA genes can be phenocopied in tumor cells with the activation of signal transduction pathways, such as the Ras pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manel Cascallo
- Translational Research Laboratory, Institut Català d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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26
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Bayo-Puxan N, Cascallo M, Gros A, Huch M, Fillat C, Alemany R. Role of the putative heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycan-binding site of the adenovirus type 5 fiber shaft on liver detargeting and knob-mediated retargeting. J Gen Virol 2006; 87:2487-2495. [PMID: 16894186 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.81889-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver tropism hampers systemic administration of adenovirus in gene therapy and virotherapy. In consequence, tumour targeting requires the combination of capsid modifications that abrogate liver transduction and redirect adenoviral vectors to tumour cells. Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), integrins and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans (HSG) are receptors involved in adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) entry into cells. The in vitro and in vivo properties of Ad5 vectors unable to bind CAR, integrins and HSG with and without Arg–Gly–Asp (RGD) inserted at the HI loop of the fiber were studied. As was previously observed with CAR-ablated vectors, CAR and integrin double binding-ablated vectors transduced hepatocytes less efficiently in vitro but not in vivo. On the contrary, the role of HSG on Ad5 infectivity was evident in vitro only when CAR binding was abrogated, but the shaft mutation that ablated HSG binding on the background of a normal capsid was sufficient to abrogate liver transduction in vivo. The insertion of amino acids RGD at the HI loop in a shaft-mutated fiber only partially rescued integrin-mediated infectivity. These results indicate that the shaft mutation precluded HSG binding and affected the structure of the fiber. The insertion of ligands at the hexon or protein IX may be required to benefit from the fiber shaft mutation-detargeting properties.
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MESH Headings
- Adenoviruses, Human/genetics
- Adenoviruses, Human/physiology
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Binding Sites
- Cell Line, Tumor
- DNA, Viral/genetics
- Genetic Therapy
- Genetic Vectors
- Heparitin Sulfate/metabolism
- Hepatocytes/metabolism
- Hepatocytes/virology
- Humans
- In Vitro Techniques
- Integrins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Nude
- Mutagenesis, Insertional
- Receptors, Virus/genetics
- Receptors, Virus/physiology
- Transduction, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Neus Bayo-Puxan
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Av. Gran Via s/n Km 2.7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Cascallo
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Av. Gran Via s/n Km 2.7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alena Gros
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Av. Gran Via s/n Km 2.7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ramon Alemany
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d'Oncologia, Av. Gran Via s/n Km 2.7, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, 08907 Barcelona, Spain
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27
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Cascallo M, Gros A, Bayo N, Serrano T, Capella G, Alemany R. Deletion of VAI and VAII RNA Genes in the Design of Oncolytic Adenoviruses. Hum Gene Ther 2006. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2006.17.ft-234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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28
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Majem M, Cascallo M, Bayo-Puxan N, Mesia R, Germa JR, Alemany R. Control of E1A under an E2F-1 promoter insulated with the myotonic dystrophy locus insulator reduces the toxicity of oncolytic adenovirus Ad-Δ24RGD. Cancer Gene Ther 2006; 13:696-705. [PMID: 16498429 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
We previously described Ad-Delta24RGD as an enhanced-infectivity oncolytic adenovirus that targets tumors with an impaired RB pathway. The common alteration of this pathway in cancer eliminates the interaction of pRB with E2F and releases free E2F to activate E2F-responsive promoters, including the E2F-1 promoter. To improve the selectivity towards RB pathway-defective tumors and reduce the toxicity of Ad-Delta24RGD we aimed to control E1A-Delta24 expression under the E2F-1 promoter. A polyA signal was inserted upstream of the E2F-1 promoter to stop transcription initiated at the adenovirus ITR and packaging signal. The human myotonic dystropy locus insulator (DM-1) was also located between the E1a enhancers and the E2F-1 promoter to further insulate the promoter. The Ad-Delta24RGD derivative containing these insulation sequences expressed less E1a-Delta24 in normal cells and resulted less toxic while maintaining the potent oncolytic activity of the parental virus. These results demonstrate that the human DM-1 inslulator can function in an adenovirus context to maintain heterologous promoter selectivity. The new oncolytic adenovirus presented here may represent a valuable therapeutic option for a broad range of tumors with a deregulated E2F/pRB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Majem
- Translational Research Laboratory, IDIBELL-Institut Catala d'Oncologia, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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