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Yun CO, Hong J, Yoon AR. Current clinical landscape of oncolytic viruses as novel cancer immunotherapeutic and recent preclinical advancements. Front Immunol 2022; 13:953410. [PMID: 36091031 PMCID: PMC9458317 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.953410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been gaining attention in the pharmaceutical industry as a novel immunotherapeutic and therapeutic adjuvant due to their ability to induce and boost antitumor immunity through multiple mechanisms. First, intrinsic mechanisms of OVs that enable exploitation of the host immune system (e.g., evading immune detection) can nullify the immune escape mechanism of tumors. Second, many types of OVs have been shown to cause direct lysis of tumor cells, resulting in an induction of tumor-specific T cell response mediated by release of tumor-associated antigens and danger signal molecules. Third, armed OV-expressing immune stimulatory therapeutic genes could be highly expressed in tumor tissues to further improve antitumor immunity. Last, these OVs can inflame cold tumors and their microenvironment to be more immunologically favorable for other immunotherapeutics. Due to these unique characteristics, OVs have been tested as an adjuvant of choice in a variety of therapeutics. In light of these promising attributes of OVs in the immune-oncology field, the present review will examine OVs in clinical development and discuss various strategies that are being explored in preclinical stages for the next generation of OVs that are optimized for immunotherapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- GeneMedicine CO., Ltd., Seoul, South Korea
| | | | - A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
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2
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Kemp JA, Kwon YJ. Cancer nanotechnology: current status and perspectives. NANO CONVERGENCE 2021; 8:34. [PMID: 34727233 PMCID: PMC8560887 DOI: 10.1186/s40580-021-00282-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Modern medicine has been waging a war on cancer for nearly a century with no tangible end in sight. Cancer treatments have significantly progressed, but the need to increase specificity and decrease systemic toxicities remains. Early diagnosis holds a key to improving prognostic outlook and patient quality of life, and diagnostic tools are on the cusp of a technological revolution. Nanotechnology has steadily expanded into the reaches of cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics, and imaging, demonstrating the capacity to augment each and advance patient care. Nanomaterials provide an abundance of versatility, functionality, and applications to engineer specifically targeted cancer medicine, accurate early-detection devices, robust imaging modalities, and enhanced radiotherapy adjuvants. This review provides insights into the current clinical and pre-clinical nanotechnological applications for cancer drug therapy, diagnostics, imaging, and radiation therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Kemp
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA
| | - Young Jik Kwon
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA, 92697, USA.
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3
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Holbrook MC, Goad DW, Grdzelishvili VZ. Expanding the Spectrum of Pancreatic Cancers Responsive to Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Oncolytic Virotherapy: Challenges and Solutions. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1171. [PMID: 33803211 PMCID: PMC7963195 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a devastating malignancy with poor prognosis and a dismal survival rate, expected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Oncolytic virus (OV) is an anticancer approach that utilizes replication-competent viruses to preferentially infect and kill tumor cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), one such OV, is already in several phase I clinical trials against different malignancies. VSV-based recombinant viruses are effective OVs against a majority of tested PDAC cell lines. However, some PDAC cell lines are resistant to VSV. Upregulated type I IFN signaling and constitutive expression of a subset of interferon-simulated genes (ISGs) play a major role in such resistance, while other mechanisms, such as inefficient viral attachment and resistance to VSV-mediated apoptosis, also play a role in some PDACs. Several alternative approaches have been shown to break the resistance of PDACs to VSV without compromising VSV oncoselectivity, including (i) combinations of VSV with JAK1/2 inhibitors (such as ruxolitinib); (ii) triple combinations of VSV with ruxolitinib and polycations improving both VSV replication and attachment; (iii) combinations of VSV with chemotherapeutic drugs (such as paclitaxel) arresting cells in the G2/M phase; (iv) arming VSV with p53 transgenes; (v) directed evolution approach producing more effective OVs. The latter study demonstrated impressive long-term genomic stability of complex VSV recombinants encoding large transgenes, supporting further clinical development of VSV as safe therapeutics for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Valery Z. Grdzelishvili
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA; (M.C.H.); (D.W.G.)
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Phan M, Watson MF, Alain T, Diallo JS. Oncolytic Viruses on Drugs: Achieving Higher Therapeutic Efficacy. ACS Infect Dis 2018; 4:1448-1467. [PMID: 30152676 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.8b00144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic expansion in the testing of oncolytic viruses (OVs) for the treatment of cancer. OVs are unique biotherapeutics that induce multimodal responses toward tumors, from direct cytopathic effects on cancer cells, to tumor associated blood vessel disruption, and ultimately potent stimulation of anti-tumor immune activation. These agents are highly targeted and can be efficacious as cancer treatments resulting in some patients experiencing complete tumor regression and even cures from OV monotherapy. However, most patients have limited responses with viral replication in tumors often found to be modest and transient. To augment OV replication, increase bystander killing of cancer cells, and/or stimulate stronger targeted anti-cancer immune responses, drug combination approaches have taken center stage for translation to the clinic. Here we comprehensively review drugs that have been combined with OVs to increase therapeutic efficacy, examining the proposed mechanisms of action, and we discuss trends in pharmaco-viral immunotherapeutic approaches currently being investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Phan
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Margaret F. Watson
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road Research Building 2, Second Floor, Room 2119, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Tommy Alain
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
- Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, 401 Smyth Road Research Building 2, Second Floor, Room 2119, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8M5, Canada
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Yaghchi CA, Zhang Z, Alusi G, Lemoine NR, Wang Y. Vaccinia virus, a promising new therapeutic agent for pancreatic cancer. Immunotherapy 2015; 7:1249-58. [PMID: 26595180 PMCID: PMC4976866 DOI: 10.2217/imt.15.90] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients signifies a need for radically new therapeutic strategies. Tumor-targeted oncolytic viruses have emerged as attractive therapeutic candidates for cancer treatment due to their inherent ability to specifically target and lyse tumor cells as well as induce antitumor effects by multiple action mechanisms. Vaccinia virus has several inherent features that make it particularly suitable for use as an oncolytic agent. In this review, we will discuss the potential of vaccinia virus in the management of pancreatic cancer in light of our increased understanding of cellular and immunological mechanisms involved in the disease process as well as our extending knowledge in the biology of vaccinia virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chadwan Al Yaghchi
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Zhongxian Zhang
- National Centre for International Research in Cell & Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Ghassan Alusi
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
| | - Nicholas R Lemoine
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
- National Centre for International Research in Cell & Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Yaohe Wang
- Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK
- National Centre for International Research in Cell & Gene Therapy, Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, Zhengzhou University, China
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AduPARE1A and gemcitabine combined treatment trigger synergistic antitumor effects in pancreatic cancer through NF-κB mediated uPAR activation. Mol Cancer 2015; 14:146. [PMID: 26227809 PMCID: PMC4521493 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-015-0413-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Combined treatment of oncolytic adenoviruses with chemotherapeutic agents is foreseen as a therapeutic option for cancer. Here we have investigated the potential to use gemcitabine in combination with the oncolytic adenovirus AduPARE1A to treat pancreatic cancer and evaluate the underlying mechanism. METHODS We treated pancreatic cancer cell lines BxPC-3 and PANC-1 with AduPARE1A and gemcitabine individually or in combination and analyzed cell viability, combination index, apoptosis and viral production. We also investigated the effects of the combination on tumor growth and mice survival in two xenograft models. Furthermore, we analyzed uPAR promoter activity from different uPAR-controlled adenovirus and studied NF-κB mediated effects. RESULTS Synergistic cell killing from the combination AduPARE1A/Gemcitabine was observed in BxPC-3 and PANC-1 cells. Moreover, the combination treatment produced therapeutic benefits over either individual modality in two mouse models bearing orthotopic tumors, showing reduced tumor progression and significant prolonged mouse survival. Mechanistic studies showed that the synergistic cell death was not due to an increase in viral replication but occurred through an enhancement of apoptotic cell death. Gemcitabine stimulation increased the transcription of uPAR-controlled transgenes through the induction of NF-κB acting on the uPAR promoter. Interestingly, NF-κB gemcitabine-mediated induction of AduPAR adenoviruses interfered with the activation of NF-κB regulated genes, probably as a result of an intracellular competition for NF-κB DNA binding. Consequently, AduPARE1A infection sensitized cells to gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in the combined treatment. CONCLUSIONS These data highlights the potential of the combination as a treatment modality for pancreatic cancer patients.
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Abstract
New therapies for metastatic breast cancer patients are urgently needed. The long-term survival rates remain unacceptably low for patients with recurrent disease or disseminated metastases. In addition, existing therapies often cause a variety of debilitating side effects that severely impact quality of life. Oncolytic viruses constitute a developing therapeutic modality in which interest continues to build due to their ability to spare normal tissue while selectively destroying tumor cells. A number of different viruses have been used to develop oncolytic agents for breast cancer, including herpes simplex virus, adenovirus, vaccinia virus, measles virus, reovirus, and others. In general, clinical trials for several cancers have demonstrated excellent safety records and evidence of efficacy. However, the impressive tumor responses often observed in preclinical studies have yet to be realized in the clinic. In order for the promise of oncolytic virotherapy to be fully realized for breast cancer patients, effectiveness must be demonstrated in metastatic disease. This review provides a summary of oncolytic virotherapy strategies being developed to target metastatic breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douglas R Hurst
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
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Forbes NE, Krishnan R, Diallo JS. Pharmacological modulation of anti-tumor immunity induced by oncolytic viruses. Front Oncol 2014; 4:191. [PMID: 25101247 PMCID: PMC4108035 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) not only kill cancer cells by direct lysis but also generate a significant anti-tumor immune response that allows for prolonged cancer control and in some cases cures. How to best stimulate this effect is a subject of intense investigation in the OV field. While pharmacological manipulation of the cellular innate anti-viral immune response has been shown by several groups to improve viral oncolysis and spread, it is increasingly clear that pharmacological agents can also impact the anti-tumor immune response generated by OVs and related tumor vaccination strategies. This review covers recent progress in using pharmacological agents to improve the activity of OVs and their ability to generate robust anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole E Forbes
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, ON , Canada ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON , Canada
| | - Ramya Krishnan
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, ON , Canada ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON , Canada
| | - Jean-Simon Diallo
- Center for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, ON , Canada ; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa , Ottawa, ON , Canada
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Xu B, Jin DY, Lou WH, Wang DS. Lipocalin-2 is associated with a good prognosis and reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in pancreatic cancer. World J Surg 2014; 37:1892-900. [PMID: 23539193 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-013-2009-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lipocalin-2 is a multifaceted modulator in cancer progression. Its clinical significance is not clear in pancreatic cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether lipocalin-2 is associated with good prognosis by reversing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in pancreatic cancer. METHODS Lipocalin-2, E-cadherin, or vimentin expression was detected in 60 pancreatic adenocarcinoma specimens. Correlations between lipocalin-2 expression and EMT, the clinicopathologic characteristics, and prognosis were investigated. Whether pancreatic cancer cells' migration and invasion (some characteristics of EMT) were affected by lipocalin-2 was also explored. RESULTS High lipocalin-2 expression was significantly associated with a good prognosis in pancreatic cancer (p < 0.05). Overexpression of lipocalin-2 correlated with a lower extent of EMT (p < 0.05), increased E-cadherin expression (p < 0.05), decreased vimentin expression (p < 0.05), and reduced cancer cell migration and invasion in pancreatic cancer. CONCLUSIONS Lipocalin-2 may be considered an epithelial inducer, which may reverse EMT and predict a good prognosis in pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 301 Yanchang Road, Shanghai 200072, China.
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10
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Ady JW, Heffner J, Klein E, Fong Y. Oncolytic viral therapy for pancreatic cancer: current research and future directions. Oncolytic Virother 2014; 3:35-46. [PMID: 27512661 PMCID: PMC4918362 DOI: 10.2147/ov.s53858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of targeted agents and chemotherapies for pancreatic cancer has only modestly affected clinical outcome and not changed 5-year survival. Fortunately the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer are being rapidly uncovered and are providing opportunities for novel targeted therapies. Oncolytic viral therapy is one of the most promising targeted agents for pancreatic cancer. This review will look at the current state of the development of these self-replicating nanoparticles in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Ady
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jacqueline Heffner
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Elizabeth Klein
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuman Fong
- Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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11
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Braidwood L, Graham SV, Graham A, Conner J. Oncolytic herpes viruses, chemotherapeutics, and other cancer drugs. Oncolytic Virother 2013; 2:57-74. [PMID: 27512658 PMCID: PMC4918355 DOI: 10.2147/ov.s52601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses are emerging as a potential new way of treating cancers. They are selectively replication-competent viruses that propagate only in actively dividing tumor cells but not in normal cells and, as a result, destroy the tumor cells by consequence of lytic infection. At least six different oncolytic herpes simplex viruses (oHSVs) have undergone clinical trials worldwide to date, and they have demonstrated an excellent safety profile and intimations of efficacy. The first pivotal Phase III trial with an oHSV, talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec [OncoVex(GM-CSF)]), is almost complete, with extremely positive early results reported. Intuitively, therapeutically beneficial interactions between oHSV and chemotherapeutic and targeted therapeutic drugs would be limited as the virus requires actively dividing cells for maximum replication efficiency and most anticancer agents are cytotoxic or cytostatic. However, combinations of such agents display a range of responses, with antagonistic, additive, or, perhaps most surprisingly, synergistic enhancement of antitumor activity. When synergistic interactions in cancer cell killing are observed, chemotherapy dose reductions that achieve the same overall efficacy may be possible, resulting in a valuable reduction of adverse side effects. Therefore, the combination of an oHSV with "standard-of-care" drugs makes a logical and reasonable approach to improved therapy, and the addition of a targeted oncolytic therapy with "standard-of-care" drugs merits further investigation, both preclinically and in the clinic. Numerous publications report such studies of oncolytic HSV in combination with other drugs, and we review their findings here. Viral interactions with cellular hosts are complex and frequently involve intracellular signaling networks, thus creating diverse opportunities for synergistic or additive combinations with many anticancer drugs. We discuss potential mechanisms that may lead to synergistic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynne Braidwood
- Virttu Biologics Ltd, Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sheila V Graham
- MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Jarrett Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alex Graham
- Virttu Biologics Ltd, Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
| | - Joe Conner
- Virttu Biologics Ltd, Department of Neurology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
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Advance in herpes simplex viruses for cancer therapy. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2013; 56:298-305. [PMID: 23564184 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-013-4466-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy is an attractive approach that uses live viruses to selectively kill cancer cells. Oncolytic viruses can be genetically engineered to induce cell lyses through virus replication and cytotoxic protein expression. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) has become one of the most widely clinically used oncolytic agent. Various types of HSV have been studied in basic or clinical research. Combining oncolytic virotherapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy generally produces synergic action with unclear molecular mechanisms. Arming HSV with therapeutic transgenes is a promising strategy and can be used to complement conventional therapies. As an efficient gene delivery system, HSV has been successfully used to deliver various immunomodulatory molecules. Arming HSV with therapeutic genes merits further investigation for potential clinical application.
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Wennier ST, Liu J, McFadden G. Bugs and drugs: oncolytic virotherapy in combination with chemotherapy. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2013; 13:1817-33. [PMID: 21740354 DOI: 10.2174/138920112800958850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2010] [Accepted: 09/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Single agent therapies are rarely successful in treating cancer, particularly at metastatic or end stages, and survival rates with monotherapies alone are generally poor. The combination of multiple therapies to treat cancer has already driven significant improvements in the standard of care treatments for many types of cancers. The first combination treatments exploited for cancer therapy involved the use of several cytotoxic chemotherapy agents. Later, with the development of more targeted agents, the use of novel, less toxic drugs, in combination with the more classic cytotoxic drugs has proven advantageous for certain cancer types. Recently, the combination of oncolytic virotherapy with chemotherapy has shown that the use of these two therapies with very distinct anti-tumor mechanisms may also lead to synergistic interactions that ultimately result in increased therapeutic effects not achievable by either therapy alone. The mechanisms of synergy between oncolytic viruses (OVs) and chemotherapeutic agents are just starting to be elucidated. It is evident, however, that the success of these OV-drug combinations depends greatly on the particular OV, the drug(s) selected, and the cancer type targeted. This review summarizes the different OV-drug combinations investigated to date, including the use of second generation armed OVs, which have been studied with the specific purpose of generating synergistic interactions with particular chemotherapy agents. The known mechanisms of synergy between these OV-drug combinations are also summarized. The importance of further investigating these mechanisms of synergy will be critical in order to maximize the therapeutic efficacy of OV-drug combination therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Tusell Wennier
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, University of Florida, 1600 SW Archer Rd, P.O. Box 100266 Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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Xu B, Zheng WY, Feng JF, Huang XY, Ge HY. One potential oncolytic adenovirus expressing Lipocalin-2 for colorectal cancer therapy. Cancer Biother Radiopharm 2013; 28:415-22. [PMID: 23464854 DOI: 10.1089/cbr.2012.1352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is an aggressive malignancy with a high mortality rate; however, effective therapies are currently lacking. Cancer-targeting gene-virotherapy (CTGVT) has been proposed to be a promising strategy for cancer therapy. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antitumor activity of the oncolytic adenovirus harboring Lipocalin-2 (ZD55-Lipocalin-2, an example of CTGVT) in colorectal cancer. ZD55-Lipocalin-2 was generated by deleting E1B55-KD and inserting the Lipocalin-2 gene. Its cytopathic effects and cell growth inhibition were detected in vitro, and antitumor effects were examined in a nude mouse model of human colorectal cancer xenografts. Results showed that ZD55-Lipocalin-2 significantly inhibited the colorectal cancer growth by selective cytolysis, inducing apoptosis and decreasing the microvessel density in tumors. The anticancer potential of ZD55-Lipocalin-2 showed stronger than that of the isolated Lipocalin-2 gene therapy or isolated ZD55 oncolytic adenovirus therapy. ZD55-Lipocalin-2 may serve as a potential anticancer agent for colorectal cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Concurrent chemotherapy inhibits herpes simplex virus-1 replication and oncolysis. Cancer Gene Ther 2013; 20:133-40. [PMID: 23348635 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2012.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) replication in cancer cells leads to their destruction (viral oncolysis) and has been under investigation as an experimental cancer therapy in clinical trials as single agents, and as combinations with chemotherapy. Cellular responses to chemotherapy modulate viral replication, but these interactions are poorly understood. To investigate the effect of chemotherapy on HSV-1 oncolysis, viral replication in cells exposed to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan (CPT-11), methotrexate (MTX) or a cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)) was examined. Exposure of colon and pancreatic cancer cells to 5-FU, CPT-11 or MTX in vitro significantly antagonizes both HSV-1 replication and lytic oncolysis. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation is required for efficient viral replication, and experimental inhibition of this response with an IκBα dominant-negative repressor significantly antagonizes HSV-1 replication. Nonetheless, cells exposed to 5-FU, CPT-11, TNF-α or HSV-1 activate NF-κB. Cells exposed to MTX do not activate NF-κB, suggesting a possible role for NF-κB inhibition in the decreased viral replication observed following exposure to MTX. The role of eukaryotic initiation factor 2α (eIF-2α) dephosphorylation was examined; HSV-1-mediated eIF-2α dephosphorylation proceeds normally in HT29 cells exposed to 5-FU, CPT-11 or MTX. This report demonstrates that cellular responses to chemotherapeutic agents provide an unfavorable environment for HSV-1-mediated oncolysis, and these observations are relevant to the design of both preclinical and clinical studies of HSV-1 oncolysis.
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Xu C, Li H, Su C, Li Z. Viral therapy for pancreatic cancer: tackle the bad guys with poison. Cancer Lett 2013; 333:1-8. [PMID: 23354590 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2013.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 01/15/2013] [Accepted: 01/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most devastating diseases with very poor prognosis. Only a small proportion is curable by surgical resection, whilst standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced disease has only modest effect with substantial toxicity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of novel therapeutic approaches to improve the patient outcome. Recently the viral therapy is emerging as a novel effective therapeutic approach for cancer with the potential to selectively treat both primary tumor and metastatic lesions. This review provides an overview of the current status of viral treatment for pancreatic cancer, both in the laboratories and in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Xu B, Zheng WY, Jin DY, Wang DS, Liu XY, Qin XY. Treatment of pancreatic cancer using an oncolytic virus harboring the lipocalin-2 gene. Cancer 2012; 118:5217-26. [PMID: 22517373 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.27535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2011] [Revised: 02/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The 5-year survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer is <5%, and it is always resistant to the current chemoradiotherapy. Therefore, new, effective agents for the treatment of pancreatic cancer are urgently needed. The promising strategy of cancer-targeting gene virotherapy (CTGVT) has demonstrated great anticancer potential. The objective of the current study was to determine whether 1 CTGVT approach, oncolytic virus (OV)-harboring lipocalin-2, is capable of treating pancreatic cancer. METHODS Tissue microarrays were constructed to detect the expression of lipocalin-2 in 60 specimens of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The clinical significance of lipocalin-2 was investigated in an analysis of correlations between lipocalin-2 expression and matched clinical characteristics. A lipocalin-2-expressing OV, ZD55-lipocalin-2, was constructed by deleting the adenoviral protein E1B55kD. The antitumor efficacy and mechanisms of the OV were investigated in pancreatic cancer cells with v-Ki-ras2 Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS) mutations in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS Lipocalin-2 expression was correlated with a good prognosis in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. ZD55-lipocalin-2 dramatically inhibited the growth of pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo by inducing cytolysis and caspase-dependent apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Higher lipocalin-2 expression predicted a better prognosis in patients with pancreatic cancer. The results indicated that ZD55-lipocalin-2, which specifically expressed higher levels of lipocalin-2 in tumor cells, may serve as a potent anticancer drug for pancreatic cancer therapy, especially for patients who have pancreatic adenocarcinoma with KRAS mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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Combination of a fusogenic glycoprotein, pro-drug activation and oncolytic HSV as an intravesical therapy for superficial bladder cancer. Br J Cancer 2012; 106:496-507. [PMID: 22240799 PMCID: PMC3273343 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2011.577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: There are still no effective treatments for superficial bladder cancer (SBC)/non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. Following treatment, 20% of patients still develop metastatic disease. Superficial bladder cancer is often multifocal, has high recurrences after surgical resection and recurs after intravesical live Bacillus Calmette–Guérin. OncovexGALV/CD, an oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1, has shown enhanced local tumour control by combining oncolysis with the expression of a highly potent pro-drug activating gene and the fusogenic glycoprotein. Methods: In vitro fusion/prodrug/apoptotic cell-based assays. In vivo orthotopic bladder tumour model, visualised by computed microtomography. Results: Treatment of seven human bladder carcinoma cell lines with the virus resulted in tumour cell killing through oncolysis, pro-drug activation and glycoprotein fusion. OncovexGALV/CD and mitomycin C showed a synergistic effect, whereas the co-administration with cisplatin or gemcitabine showed an antagonistic effect in vitro. Transitional cell cancer (TCC) cells follow an apoptotic cell death pathway after infection with OncovexGALV/CD with or without 5-FC. In vivo results showed that intravesical treatment with OncovexGALV/CD + prodrug (5-FC) reduced the average tumour volume by over 95% compared with controls. Discussion: Our in vitro and in vivo results indicate that OncovexGALV/CD can improve local tumour control within the bladder, and potentially alter its natural history.
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Vesicular stomatitis virus as an oncolytic agent against pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Virol 2012; 86:3073-87. [PMID: 22238308 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.05640-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a promising oncolytic agent against a variety of cancers. However, it has never been tested in any pancreatic cancer model. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is the most common and aggressive form of pancreatic cancer. In this study, the oncolytic potentials of several VSV variants were analyzed in a panel of 13 clinically relevant human PDA cell lines and compared to conditionally replicative adenoviruses (CRAds), Sendai virus and respiratory syncytial virus. VSV variants showed oncolytic abilities superior to those of other viruses, and some cell lines that exhibited resistance to other viruses were successfully killed by VSV. However, PDA cells were highly heterogeneous in their susceptibility to virus-induced oncolysis, and several cell lines were resistant to all tested viruses. Resistant cells showed low levels of very early VSV RNA synthesis, indicating possible defects at initial stages of infection. In addition, unlike permissive PDA cell lines, most of the resistant cell lines were able to both produce and respond to interferon, suggesting that intact type I interferon responses contributed to their resistance phenotype. Four cell lines that varied in their permissiveness to VSV-ΔM51 and CRAd dl1520 were tested in mice, and the in vivo results closely mimicked those in vitro. While our results demonstrate that VSV is a promising oncolytic agent against PDA, further studies are needed to better understand the molecular mechanisms of resistance of some PDAs to oncolytic virotherapy.
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Myxoma virus sensitizes cancer cells to gemcitabine and is an effective oncolytic virotherapeutic in models of disseminated pancreatic cancer. Mol Ther 2012; 20:759-68. [PMID: 22233582 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Myxoma virus (MYXV) is a novel oncolytic virus that has been shown to replicate in pancreatic cancer cells, but its efficacy in animal models of pancreatic cancer has not been determined. The efficacy of MYXV as monotherapy or in combination with gemcitabine was evaluated in intraperitoneal dissemination (IPD) models of pancreatic cancer. The effects of an intact immune system on the efficacy of MYXV therapy was tested by comparing immunodeficient versus immunocompetent murine models and combination therapy with gemcitabine was also evaluated. In cell culture, MYXV replication was robust in a broad range of pancreatic cancer cells and also showed increased oncolysis in combination with gemcitabine. In animal models, MYXV treatment conferred survival benefits over control or gemcitabine-treated cohorts regardless of the cell line or animal model used. MYXV monotherapy was most effective in an immunocompetent IPD model, and resulted in 60% long-term survivors. In Pan02 engrafted immunocompetent IPD models, sequential treatment in which MYXV was administered first, followed by gemcitabine, was the most effective and resulted in 100% long-term survivors. MYXV is an effective oncolytic virus for pancreatic cancer and can be combined with gemcitabine to enhance survival, particularly in the presence of an intact host immune system.
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Sahin TT, Kasuya H, Nomura N, Shikano T, Yamamura K, Gewen T, Kanzaki A, Fujii T, Sugae T, Imai T, Nomoto S, Takeda S, Sugimoto H, Kikumori T, Kodera Y, Nishiyama Y, Nakao A. Impact of novel oncolytic virus HF10 on cellular components of the tumor microenviroment in patients with recurrent breast cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2011; 19:229-37. [PMID: 22193629 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2011.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses are a promising method of cancer therapy, even for advanced malignancies. HF10, a spontaneously mutated herpes simplex type 1, is a potent oncolytic agent. The interaction of oncolytic herpes viruses with the tumor microenvironment has not been well characterized. We injected HF10 into tumors of patients with recurrent breast carcinoma, and sought to determine its effects on the tumor microenvironment. Six patients with recurrent breast cancer were recruited to the study. Tumors were divided into two groups: saline-injected (control) and HF10-injected (treatment). We investigated several parameters including neovascularization (CD31) and tumor lymphocyte infiltration (CD8, CD4), determined by immunohistochemistry, and apoptosis, determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Median apoptotic cell count was lower in the treatment group (P=0.016). Angiogenesis was significantly higher in treatment group (P=0.032). Count of CD8-positive lymphocytes infiltrating the tumors was higher in the treatment group (P=0.008). We were unable to determine CD4-positive lymphocyte infiltration. An effective oncolytic viral agent must replicate efficiently in tumor cells, leading to higher viral counts, in order to aid viral penetration. HF10 seems to meet this criterion; furthermore, it induces potent antitumor immunity. The increase in angiogenesis may be due to either viral replication or the inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- T T Sahin
- Department of Surgery II, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
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Abstract
Within the past decade, many oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been studied as potential treatments for pancreatic cancer and some of these are currently under clinical trials. The applicability of certain OVs, such as adenoviruses, herpesviruses and reoviruses, for the treatment of pancreatic cancer has been intensively studied for several years, whereas the applicability of other more recently investigated OVs, such as poxviruses and parvoviruses, is only starting to be determined. At the same time, studies have identified key characteristics of pancreatic cancer biology that provide a better understanding of the important factors or pathways involved in this disease. This review aims to summarise the different replication-competent OVs proposed as therapeutics for pancreatic cancer. It also focuses on the unique biology of these viruses that makes them exciting candidate virotherapies for pancreatic cancer and discusses how they could be genetically manipulated or combined with other drugs to improve their efficacy based on what is currently known about the molecular biology of pancreatic cancer.
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Endoscopic ultrasound-guided injection therapy for hepatobiliary disease. JOURNAL OF HEPATO-BILIARY-PANCREATIC SCIENCES 2011; 18:311-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s00534-010-0354-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
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Skelding KA, Barry RD, Shafren DR. Enhanced oncolysis mediated by Coxsackievirus A21 in combination with doxorubicin hydrochloride. Invest New Drugs 2010; 30:568-81. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-010-9614-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2010] [Accepted: 11/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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A phase I dose-escalation clinical trial of intraoperative direct intratumoral injection of HF10 oncolytic virus in non-resectable patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2010; 18:167-75. [PMID: 21102422 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2010.65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In 2005, we initiated a clinical trial that examined the efficacy of the oncolytic virus HF10 to treat pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer continues to have a high mortality rate, despite multimodal treatments for patients, and new therapeutic methods are greatly needed. The current mainstream methods for cancer treatment include biological therapeutics such as trastuzumab (Herceptin) for breast cancer or erlotinib (Tarceva) for non-small cell lung cancer. Oncolytic virus therapy is a new and promising treatment strategy for cancer. Oncolytic viruses are novel biological therapeutics for advanced cancer that appear to have a wide spectrum of anticancer activity with minimal human toxicity. To examine the efficacy of oncolytic virus therapy for pancreatic cancer, we initiated pilot studies by injecting six patients with non-resectable pancreatic cancer with three doses of HF10. All patients were monitored for 30 days for local and systemic adverse effects and were not administered any other therapeutics during this period. There were no adverse side-effects, and we observed some therapeutic potential based on tumor marker levels, survival, pathological findings and diagnostic radiography. The tumors were classified as stable disease in three patients, partial response in one patient and progressive disease in two patients.
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Wong HH, Lemoine NR. Novel therapies for pancreatic cancer: setbacks and progress. Future Oncol 2010; 6:1061-4. [PMID: 20624116 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
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Kanai R, Wakimoto H, Cheema T, Rabkin SD. Oncolytic herpes simplex virus vectors and chemotherapy: are combinatorial strategies more effective for cancer? Future Oncol 2010; 6:619-34. [PMID: 20373873 DOI: 10.2217/fon.10.18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite aggressive treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, cancers often recur owing to resistance to conventional therapies. Oncolytic viruses such as oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) represent an exciting biological approach to cancer therapy. A range of viral mutations has been engineered into HSV to engender oncolytic activity. While oHSV as a single agent has been tested in a number of cancer clinical trials, preclinical studies have demonstrated enhanced efficacy when it is combined with cytotoxic anticancer drugs. Among the strategies that will be discussed in this article are combinations with standard-of-care chemotherapeutics, expression of prodrug-activating enzymes to enhance chemotherapy and small-molecule inhibitors. The combination of oHSV and chemotherapy can achieve much more efficient cancer cell killing than either single agent alone, often through synergistic interactions. This can be clinically important not just for improving efficacy but also for permitting lower and less toxic chemotherapeutic doses. The viral mutations in an oHSV vector often determine the favorability of its interactions with chemotherapy, just as different cancer cells, due to genetic alterations, vary in their response to chemotherapy. As chemotherapeutics are often the standard of care, combining them with an investigational new drug, such as oHSV, is clinically easier than combining multiple novel agents. As has become clear for most cancer therapies, multimodal treatments are usually more effective. In this article, we will discuss the recent progress of these combinatorial strategies between virotherapy and chemotherapy and future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuichi Kanai
- Brain Tumor Research Center, Department of Neurosurgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, & Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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28
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Abstract
The very deep knowledge acquired on the genetics and molecular biology of herpes simplex virus (HSV), has allowed the development of potential replication-competent and replication-defective vectors for several applications in human healthcare. These include delivery and expression of human genes to cells of the nervous systems, selective destruction of cancer cells, prophylaxis against infection with HSV or other infectious diseases, and targeted infection to specific tissues or organs. Replication-defective recombinant vectors are non-toxic gene transfer tools that preserve most of the neurotropic features of wild type HSV-1, particularly the ability to express genes after having established latent infections, and are thus proficient candidates for therapeutic gene transfer settings in neurons. A replication-defective HSV vector for the treatment of pain has recently entered in phase 1 clinical trial. Replication-competent (oncolytic) vectors are becoming a suitable and powerful tool to eradicate brain tumours due to their ability to replicate and spread only within the tumour mass, and have reached phase II/III clinical trials in some cases. The progress in understanding the host immune response induced by the vector is also improving the use of HSV as a vaccine vector against both HSV infection and other pathogens. This review briefly summarizes the obstacle encountered in the delivery of HSV vectors and examines the various strategies developed or proposed to overcome such challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Manservigi
- Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine - Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Manservigi R, Argnani R, Marconi P. HSV Recombinant Vectors for Gene Therapy. Open Virol J 2010; 4:123-56. [PMID: 20835362 DOI: 10.2174/1874357901004030123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2009] [Revised: 03/13/2010] [Accepted: 03/31/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The very deep knowledge acquired on the genetics and molecular biology of herpes simplex virus (HSV), has allowed the development of potential replication-competent and replication-defective vectors for several applications in human healthcare. These include delivery and expression of human genes to cells of the nervous systems, selective destruction of cancer cells, prophylaxis against infection with HSV or other infectious diseases, and targeted infection to specific tissues or organs. Replication-defective recombinant vectors are non-toxic gene transfer tools that preserve most of the neurotropic features of wild type HSV-1, particularly the ability to express genes after having established latent infections, and are thus proficient candidates for therapeutic gene transfer settings in neurons. A replication-defective HSV vector for the treatment of pain has recently entered in phase 1 clinical trial. Replication-competent (oncolytic) vectors are becoming a suitable and powerful tool to eradicate brain tumours due to their ability to replicate and spread only within the tumour mass, and have reached phase II/III clinical trials in some cases. The progress in understanding the host immune response induced by the vector is also improving the use of HSV as a vaccine vector against both HSV infection and other pathogens. This review briefly summarizes the obstacle encountered in the delivery of HSV vectors and examines the various strategies developed or proposed to overcome such challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Manservigi
- Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine - Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, 44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Leitner S, Sweeney K, Oberg D, Davies D, Miranda E, Lemoine NR, Halldén G. Oncolytic adenoviral mutants with E1B19K gene deletions enhance gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in pancreatic carcinoma cells and anti-tumor efficacy in vivo. Clin Cancer Res 2009; 15:1730-40. [PMID: 19223497 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-08-2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a rapidly progressive malignancy that is highly resistant to current chemotherapeutic modalities and almost uniformly fatal. We show that a novel targeting strategy combining oncolytic adenoviral mutants with the standard cytotoxic treatment, gemcitabine, can markedly improve the anticancer potency. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Adenoviral mutants with the E1B19K gene deleted with and without E3B gene expression (AdDeltaE1B19K and dl337 mutants, respectively) were assessed for synergistic interactions in combination with gemcitabine. Cell viability, mechanism of cell death, and antitumor efficacy in vivo were determined in the pancreatic carcinoma cells PT45 and Suit2, normal human bronchial epithelial cells, and in PT45 xenografts. RESULTS The DeltaE1B19K-deleted mutants synergized with gemcitabine to selectively kill cultured pancreatic cancer cells and xenografts in vivo with no effect in normal cells. The corresponding wild-type virus (Ad5) stimulated drug-induced cell killing to a lesser degree. Gemcitabine blocked replication of all viruses despite the enhanced cell killing activity due to gemcitabine-induced delay in G1/S-cell cycle progression, with repression of cyclin E and cdc25A, which was not abrogated by viral E1A-expression. Synergistic cell death occurred through enhancement of gemcitabine-induced apoptosis in the presence of both AdDeltaE1B19K and dl337 mutants, shown by increased cell membrane fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that oncolytic mutants lacking the antiapoptotic E1B19K gene can improve efficacy of DNA-damaging drugs such as gemcitabine through convergence on cellular apoptosis pathways. These findings imply that less toxic doses than currently practiced in the clinic could efficiently target pancreatic adenocarcinomas when combined with adenoviral mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Leitner
- Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging, Institute of Cancer, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, UK
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Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is a lethal disease and notoriously difficult to treat. Only a small proportion is curative by surgical resection, whilst standard chemotherapy for patients with advanced disease has only modest effect with substantial toxicity. Clearly there is a need for the continual development of novel therapeutic agents to improve the current situation. Improvement of our understanding of the disease has generated a large number of studies on biological approaches targeting the molecular abnormalities of pancreatic cancer, including gene therapy and signal transduction inhibition, antiangiogenic and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition, oncolytic viral therapy and immunotherapy. This article provides a review of these approaches, both investigated in the laboratories and in subsequent clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Hsi Wong
- Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging, Institute of Cancer, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary, University of London, London, UK.
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