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Bhoopathi P, Pradhan AK, Maji S, Das SK, Emdad L, Fisher PB. Theranostic Tripartite Cancer Terminator Virus for Cancer Therapy and Imaging. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13040857. [PMID: 33670594 PMCID: PMC7922065 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13040857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary An optimum cancer therapeutic virus should embody unique properties, including an ability to: Selectively procreate and kill tumor but not normal cells; produce a secreted therapeutic molecule (with broad-acting anti-cancer effects on primary and distant metastatic cells because of potent “bystander” activity); and monitor therapy non-invasively by imaging primary and distant metastatic cancers. We previously created a broad-spectrum, cancer-selective and replication competent therapeutic adenovirus that embodies two of these properties, i.e., specifically reproduces in cancer cells and produces a therapeutic cytokine, MDA-7/IL-24, a “cancer terminator virus” (CTV). We now expand on this concept and demonstrate the feasibility of producing a tripartite CTV (TCTV) selectively expressing three genes from three distinct promoters that replicate in the cancer cells while producing MDA-7/IL-24 and an imaging gene (i.e., luciferase). This novel first-in-class tripartite “theranostic” TCTV expands the utility of therapeutic viruses to non-invasively image and selectively destroy primary tumors and metastases. Abstract Combining cancer-selective viral replication and simultaneous production of a therapeutic cytokine, with potent “bystander” anti-tumor activity, are hallmarks of the cancer terminator virus (CTV). To expand on these attributes, we designed a next generation CTV that additionally enables simultaneous non-invasive imaging of tumors targeted for eradication. A unique tripartite CTV “theranostic” adenovirus (TCTV) has now been created that employs three distinct promoters to target virus replication, cytokine production and imaging capabilities uniquely in cancer cells. Conditional replication of the TCTV is regulated by a cancer-selective (truncated PEG-3) promoter, the therapeutic component, MDA-7/IL-24, is under a ubiquitous (CMV) promoter, and finally the imaging capabilities are synchronized through another cancer selective (truncated tCCN1) promoter. Using in vitro studies and clinically relevant in vivo models of breast and prostate cancer, we demonstrate that incorporating a reporter gene for imaging does not compromise the exceptional therapeutic efficacy of our previously reported bipartite CTV. This TCTV permits targeted treatment of tumors while monitoring tumor regression, with potential to simultaneously detect metastasis due to the cancer-selective activity of reporter gene expression. This “theranostic” virus provides a new genetic tool for distinguishing and treating localized and metastatic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Bhoopathi
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (P.B.F.)
| | - Anjan K. Pradhan
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
| | - Santanu Maji
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
| | - Swadesh K. Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - Paul B. Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA; (A.K.P.); (S.M.); (S.K.D.); (L.E.)
- VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- VCU Massey Cancer Center, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
- Correspondence: (P.B.); (P.B.F.)
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