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Funk C, Uhlig N, Ruzsics Z, Baur F, Peindl M, Nietzer S, Epting K, Vacun G, Dandekar G, Botteron C, Werno C, Grunwald T, Bailer SM. TheraVision: Engineering platform technology for the development of oncolytic viruses based on herpes simplex virus type 1. Mol Ther Oncol 2024; 32:200784. [PMID: 38596296 PMCID: PMC10950833 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are able to efficiently penetrate cells, multiply, and eventually kill infected cells, release tumor antigens, and activate the immune system. Therefore, viruses are highly attractive novel agents for cancer therapy. Clinical trials with first generations of oncolytic viruses (OVs) are very promising but show significant need for optimization. The aim of TheraVision was to establish a broadly applicable engineering platform technology for combinatorial oncolytic virus and immunotherapy. Through genetic engineering, an attenuated herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1) was generated that showed increased safety compared to the wild-type strain. To demonstrate the modularity and the facilitated generation of new OVs, two transgenes encoding retargeting as well as immunomodulating single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) were integrated into the platform vector. The resulting virus selectively infected epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing cells and produced a functional immune checkpoint inhibitor against programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Thus, both viral-mediated oncolysis and immune-cell-mediated therapy were combined into a single viral vector. Safety and functionality of the armed OVs have been shown in novel preclinical models ranging from patient-derived organoids and tissue-engineered human in vitro 3D tumor models to complex humanized mouse models. Consequently, a novel and proprietary engineering platform vector based on HSV1 is available for the facilitated preclinical development of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Funk
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Nadja Uhlig
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Zsolt Ruzsics
- Department for Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Florentin Baur
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Peindl
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Sarah Nietzer
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Karina Epting
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gabriele Vacun
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gudrun Dandekar
- Chair of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Röntgenring, Würzburg, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC, Translational Center Regenerative Therapies, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Catherine Botteron
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian Werno
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Grunwald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Susanne M. Bailer
- Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, Stuttgart, Germany
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