1
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Sperring CP, Argenziano MG, Savage WM, Teasley DE, Upadhyayula PS, Winans NJ, Canoll P, Bruce JN. Convection-enhanced delivery of immunomodulatory therapy for high-grade glioma. Neurooncol Adv 2023; 5:vdad044. [PMID: 37215957 PMCID: PMC10195574 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis for glioblastoma has remained poor despite multimodal standard of care treatment, including temozolomide, radiation, and surgical resection. Further, the addition of immunotherapies, while promising in a number of other solid tumors, has overwhelmingly failed in the treatment of gliomas, in part due to the immunosuppressive microenvironment and poor drug penetrance to the brain. Local delivery of immunomodulatory therapies circumvents some of these challenges and has led to long-term remission in select patients. Many of these approaches utilize convection-enhanced delivery (CED) for immunological drug delivery, allowing high doses to be delivered directly to the brain parenchyma, avoiding systemic toxicity. Here, we review the literature encompassing immunotherapies delivered via CED-from preclinical model systems to clinical trials-and explore how their unique combination elicits an antitumor response by the immune system, decreases toxicity, and improves survival among select high-grade glioma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin P Sperring
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Michael G Argenziano
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - William M Savage
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Damian E Teasley
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pavan S Upadhyayula
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nathan J Winans
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter Canoll
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jeffrey N Bruce
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NY-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
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2
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Shi G, Scott M, Mangiamele CG, Heller R. Modification of the Tumor Microenvironment Enhances Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy in Metastatic Melanoma. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2429. [PMID: 36365247 PMCID: PMC9695203 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to checkpoint-blockade treatments is a challenge in the clinic. Both primary and acquired resistance have become major obstacles, greatly limiting the long-lasting effects and wide application of blockade therapy. Many patients with metastatic melanoma eventually require further therapy. The absence of T-cell infiltration to the tumor site is a well-accepted contributor limiting immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy. In this study, we combined intratumoral injection of plasmid IL-12 with electrotransfer and anti-PD-1 in metastatic B16F10 melanoma tumor model to increase tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and improve therapeutic efficacy. We showed that effective anti-tumor responses required a subset of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. Additionally, the combination therapy induced higher MHC-I surface expression on tumor cells to hamper tumor cells escaping from immune recognition. Furthermore, we found that activating T cells by exposure to IL-12 resulted in tumors sensitized to anti-PD-1 treatment, suggesting a therapeutic strategy to improve responses to checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilan Shi
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Megan Scott
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Cathryn G. Mangiamele
- Frank Reidy Research Center for Bioelectrics, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23508, USA
| | - Richard Heller
- Department of Medical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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3
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Han M, Nguyen B, Lee JY, Browning E, Zhang J, Mukhopadhyay A, Gujar R, Salazar J, Hermiz R, Svenson L, Rolig AS, Redmond WL, Algazi AP, Daud AI, Canton DA, Twitty CG. Intratumoral electroporation of plasmid encoded IL-12 and membrane-anchored anti-CD3 increases systemic tumor immunity. Mol Cancer Res 2022; 20:983-995. [PMID: 35302641 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Intratumoral delivery of plasmid IL 12 via electroporation (IT tavo EP) induces localized expression of IL 12 leading to regression of treated and distant tumors with durable responses and minimal toxicity. A key driver in amplifying this local therapy into a systemic response is the magnitude and composition of immune infiltrate in the treated tumor. While intratumoral IL 12 typically increases the density of CD3+ tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), this infiltrate is composed of a broad range of T cell subsets, including activated tumor specific T cells, less functional bystander T cells, as well as suppressive T regulatory cells. To encourage a more favorable on treatment tumor microenvironment, we explored combining this IL 12 therapy with an intratumoral polyclonal T cell stimulator membrane anchored anti CD3 to productively engage a diverse subset of lymphocytes including the non reactive and suppressive T cells. This study highlighted that combined intratumoral electroporation of IL 12 and membrane anchored anti CD3 plasmids can enhance cytokine production, T cell cytotoxicity, and proliferation while limiting the suppressive capacity within the TME. These collective anti tumor effects not only improve regression of treated tumors but drive systemic immunity with control of non treated contralateral tumors in vivo. Moreover, combination of IL 12 and anti CD3 restored the function of TIL isolated from a melanoma patient actively progressing on PD 1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy. This DNA encodable polyclonal T cell stimulator (membrane anchored anti CD3 plasmid) may represent a key addition to intratumoral IL-12 therapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Han
- OncoSec Medical Inc., San Diego, United States
| | | | - Jack Y Lee
- OncoSec Medical Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - Jun Zhang
- Oncosec Medical Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Jon Salazar
- Oncosec Medical Inc., San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | | | - Annah S Rolig
- Providence Cancer Institute, Portland, OR, United States
| | | | - Alain P Algazi
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Adil I Daud
- University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - David A Canton
- Oncosec Medical Incorporated, San Diego, CA, United States
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4
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Mukhopadhyay A, Wright J, Shirley S, Canton DA, Burkart C, Connolly RJ, Campbell JS, Pierce RH. Characterization of abscopal effects of intratumoral electroporation-mediated IL-12 gene therapy. Gene Ther 2019; 26:1-15. [PMID: 30323352 PMCID: PMC6514882 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0044-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Intratumoral electroporation-mediated IL-12 gene therapy (IT-pIL12/EP) has been shown to be safe and effective in clinical trials, demonstrating systemic antitumor effects with local delivery of this potent cytokine. We recently optimized our IL-12 gene delivery platform to increase transgene expression and efficacy in preclinical models. Here we analyze the immunological changes induced with the new IT-pIL12/EP platform in both electroporated and distant, non-electroporated lesions. IT-pIL12/EP-treated tumors demonstrated rapid induction of IL-12-regulated pathways, as well as other cytokines and chemokines pathways, and upregulation of antigen presentation machinery. The distant tumors showed an increase in infiltrating lymphocytes and gene expression changes indicative of a de novo immune response in these untreated lesions. Flow cytometric analyses revealed a KLRG1hi CD8+ effector T-cell population uniquely present in mice treated with IT-pIL12/EP. Despite being highly activated, this population expressed diminished levels of PD-1 when re-exposed to antigen in the PD-L1-rich tumor. Other T-cell exhaustion markers appeared to be downregulated in concert, suggesting an orchestrated "armoring" of these effector T cells against T-cell checkpoints when primed in the presence of IL-12 in situ. These cells may represent an important mechanism by which local IL-12 gene therapy can induce a systemic antitumor immune response without the associated toxicity of systemic IL-12 exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jocelyn Wright
- OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 3565 General Atomics Court #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Shawna Shirley
- OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 3565 General Atomics Court #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - David A Canton
- OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 3565 General Atomics Court #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Christoph Burkart
- OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 3565 General Atomics Court #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Richard J Connolly
- OncoSec Medical Incorporated, 3565 General Atomics Court #100, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Jean S Campbell
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Robert H Pierce
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA.
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5
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Kamensek U, Cemazar M, Lampreht Tratar U, Ursic K, Sersa G. Antitumor in situ vaccination effect of TNFα and IL-12 plasmid DNA electrotransfer in a murine melanoma model. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2018; 67:785-795. [PMID: 29468364 PMCID: PMC5928174 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-018-2133-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gene electrotransfer (GET) is one of the most efficient non-viral gene therapy approaches for the localized transfer of multiple genes into tumors in vivo; therefore, it is especially promising for delivering different cytokines that are toxic if administered systemically. In this study, we used concomitant intratumoral GET of two cytokines: tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), a potent cytotoxic cytokine to induce in situ vaccination, and interleukin 12 (IL-12), an immunostimulatory cytokine to boost the primed local immune response into a systemic one. After performing GET in murine melanoma tumors, both TNFα and IL-12 mRNA levels were significantly increased, which resulted in a pronounced delay in tumor growth of 27 days and a prolonged survival time of mice. An antitumor immune response was confirmed by extensive infiltration of immune cells in the tumor site, and expansion of the effector immune cells in the sentinel lymph nodes. Furthermore, the effect of in situ vaccination was indicated by the presence of vitiligo localized to the treatment area and resistance of the mice to secondary challenge with tumor cells. Intratumoral GET of two cytokines, one for in situ vaccination and one for an immune boost, proved feasible and effective in eliciting a potent and durable antitumor response; therefore, further studies of this approach are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urska Kamensek
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Maja Cemazar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Primorska, Polje 42, Izola, Slovenia
| | - Ursa Lampreht Tratar
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Katja Ursic
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gregor Sersa
- Department of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Zaloska 2, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ljubljana, Zdravstvena pot 5, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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6
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Hernandez-Alcoceba R, Poutou J, Ballesteros-Briones MC, Smerdou C. Gene therapy approaches against cancer using in vivo and ex vivo gene transfer of interleukin-12. Immunotherapy 2016; 8:179-98. [PMID: 26786809 DOI: 10.2217/imt.15.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
IL-12 is an immunostimulatory cytokine with strong antitumor properties. Systemic administration of IL-12 in cancer patients led to severe toxic effects, prompting the development of gene therapy vectors able to express this cytokine locally in tumors. Both nonviral and viral vectors have demonstrated a high antitumor efficacy in preclinical tumor models. Some of these vectors, including DNA electroporation, adenovirus and ex vivo transduced dendritic cells, were tested in patients, showing low toxicity and moderate antitumor efficacy. IL-12 activity can be potentiated by molecules with immunostimulatory, antiangiogenic or cytotoxic activity. These combination therapies are of clinical interest because they could lower the threshold for IL-12 efficacy, increasing the therapeutic potential of gene therapy and preventing the toxicity mediated by this cytokine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Hernandez-Alcoceba
- Division of Gene Therapy, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008 Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 3, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Joanna Poutou
- Division of Gene Therapy, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008 Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 3, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - María Cristina Ballesteros-Briones
- Division of Gene Therapy, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008 Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 3, Pamplona 31008, Spain
| | - Cristian Smerdou
- Division of Gene Therapy, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona 31008 Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, c/Irunlarrea 3, Pamplona 31008, Spain
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7
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Abstract
Intratumoral gene electroporation uses electric charges to facilitate entry of plasmid DNA into cells in a reproducible and highly efficient manner, especially to accessible sites such as cutaneous and subcutaneous melanomas. Effective for locally treated disease, electroporation of plasmid DNA encoding interleukin-12 can also induce responses in untreated distant disease, suggesting that adaptive immune responses are being elicited that can target melanoma-associated antigens. In vivo electroporation with immunomodulatory cytokine DNA is a promising approach that can trigger systemic anti-tumor immune responses without the systemic toxicity associated with intravenous cytokine delivery and potentially offer complete long-term tumor regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Cha
- Department of Medicine; University of California-San Francisco, CA, USA.
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8
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Plasmid injection and application of electric pulses alter endogenous mRNA and protein expression in B16.F10 mouse melanomas. Cancer Gene Ther 2010; 17:864-71. [PMID: 20706286 PMCID: PMC2981654 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2010.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The application of electric pulses to tissues causes cell membrane destabilization, allowing exogenous molecules to enter the cells. This delivery technique can be used for plasmid gene therapy. Reporter gene expression after plasmid delivery with eight representative published protocols was compared in B16.F10 mouse melanoma tumors. This expression varied significantly based on the pulse parameters utilized for delivery. To observe the possible influence of plasmid injection and/or pulse application on endogenous gene expression, levels of stress related mRNAs four and 24 hours after delivery were determined by PCR array. Increases in mRNA levels for several inflammatory chemokines and cytokines were observed in response to plasmid injection, electric pulses alone, or the combination. This upregulation was confirmed by individual real-time reverse transcription TaqMan PCR assays. Proteins were extracted at the same time points from identically treated tumors and inflammatory protein levels were assayed by ELISA and by a custom multiplex bead array. Increases in inflammatory protein levels generally paralleled mRNA levels. Some differences were observed, which may have been due to differing expression kinetics. The observed upregulated expression of these cytokines and chemokines may aid or inhibit the therapeutic effectiveness of immune-based cancer gene therapies.
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9
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Sverdlov ED. Not gene therapy, but genetic surgery-the right strategy to attack cancer. MOLECULAR GENETICS, MICROBIOLOGY AND VIROLOGY : MOLEKULYARNAYA GENETIKA, MIKROBIOLOGIYA I VIRUSOLOGIYA 2009; 24:93-113. [PMID: 32214647 PMCID: PMC7089455 DOI: 10.3103/s089141680903001x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In this review, I will suggest to divide all the approaches united now under common term "gene therapy" into two broad strategies of which the first one uses the methodology of targeted therapy with all its characteristics, but with genes in the role of agents targeted at a certain molecular component(s) presumably crucial for cancer maintenance. In contrast, the techniques of the other strategy are aimed at the destruction of tumors as a whole using the features shared by all cancers, for example relatively fast mitotic cell division or active angiogenesis. While the first strategy is "true" gene therapy, the second one is more like genetic surgery when a surgeon just cuts off a tumor with his scalpel and has no interest in knowing delicate mechanisms of cancer emergence and progression. I will try to substantiate the idea that the last strategy is the only right one, and its simplicity is paradoxically adequate to the super-complexity of tumors that originates from general complexity of cell regulation, strongly disturbed in tumor cells, and especially from the complexity of tumors as evolving cell populations, affecting also their ecological niche formed by neighboring normal cells and tissues. An analysis of the most widely used for such a "surgery" suicide gene/prodrug combinations will be presented in some more details.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Sverdlov
- Shemyakin and Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry RAN, Moscow, Russia
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10
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Policastro LL, Ibañez IL, Durán HA, Soria G, Gottifredi V, Podhajcer OL. Suppression of cancer growth by nonviral gene therapy based on a novel reactive oxygen species-responsive promoter. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1355-64. [PMID: 19436270 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been reported as a distinctive feature of different pathologies including cancer. Therefore, we assessed whether increased ROS production in the cancer microenvironment could be selectively exploited to develop a selective anticancer therapy. For this purpose, we constructed a novel chimeric promoter, based on a ROS-response motif located in the VEGF gene promoter placed, in turn, downstream of a second ROS-response motif obtained from the early growth response 1 (Egr-1) gene promoter. The activity of the chimeric promoter was largely dependent on variations in intracellular ROS levels and showed a high inducible response to exogenous H(2)O(2). Transient expression of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene driven by the chimeric promoter, followed by gancyclovir (GCV) administration, inhibited human colorectal cancer and melanoma cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, electrotransfer of the TK gene followed by GCV administration exerted a potent therapeutic effect on established tumors. This response was improved when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, we show for the first time that a distinctive pro-oxidant state can be used to develop new selective gene therapeutics for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía L Policastro
- Department of Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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11
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Díez S, Navarro G, de ILarduya CT. In vivo targeted gene delivery by cationic nanoparticles for treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. J Gene Med 2009; 11:38-45. [PMID: 19021130 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transgene expression in vivo for therapeutic purposes will require methods that allow for efficient gene transfer into cells. Although current vector technologies are being improved, the development of novel vector systems with improved targeting specificity, higher transduction efficiencies and improved safety is necessary. METHODS Asialoglycoprotein receptor-targeted cationic nanoparticles for interleukin (IL)-12 encapsulation (NP1) or adsorption (NP2) have been formulated by blending poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) (50 : 50) with the cationic lipid 1,2-dioleoyl-3-(trimethylammonium) propane (DOTAP) and the ligand asialofetuin (AF), by using a modified solvent evaporation process. RESULTS We present a novel targeted lipopolymeric vector, which improves significantly the levels of luciferase gene expression in the liver upon i.v. administration. Targeted-NP2 particles showed a five- and 12-fold higher transfection activity in the liver compared to non-targeted (plain) complexes or naked pCMV DNA, respectively. On the other hand, BNL tumor-bearing animals treated with AF-NP1 containing the therapeutic gene IL-12, showed tumor growth inhibition, leading to a complete tumor regression in 75% of the treated mice, without signs of recurrence. High levels of IL-12 and interferon-gamma were detected in the sera of treated animals. Mice survival also improved considerably. Tumor treatment with AF-NP2 formulations lead only to a retardation in the tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS In the present study, we have developed an efficient targeted non-viral vector for IL-12 gene transfer in hepatocellular carcinoma in vivo, by employing non-toxic cationic PLGA/DOTAP/AF nanoparticles. These results demonstrate for the first time that this cationic system could be used successfully and safely for delivery of therapeutic genes with antitumor activity into liver tumors with targeting specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonsoles Díez
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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12
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Tros De Ilarduya C, Buñuales M, Qian C, Düzgüneş N. Antitumoral activity of transferrin-lipoplexes carrying the IL-12 gene in the treatment of colon cancer. J Drug Target 2008; 14:527-35. [PMID: 17050119 DOI: 10.1080/10611860600825282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to establish an efficient targeted nonviral strategy for IL-12 gene transfer in colon carcinoma in vivo employing transferrin (Tf)-lipoplexes. Complexes for in vitro experiments were prepared at a 5/1(+/ - ) (lipid/DNA) charge ratio, with the ligand Tf (32 (microg/(microg DNA). Complexes for in vivo experiments contained 144 mM of total lipid (DOTAP/Chol), 60 (microg of pCMVLuc or pCMVIL-12 and 32 (microg of Tf-lipoplexes per microgram of plasmid. For intratumoral studies, CT26 (5 x 105 cells) in 50 microl of PBS were inoculated subcutaneously into the back of the mouse. Treatments began when tumor sizes reached 5-6 mm in diameter. Complexes were injected by a single intratumoral injection in a volume of 50 microl. Our in vitro results indicate that Tf-lipoplexes always mediate higher gene expression in colon (CT26) tumor cells, compared to plain-lipoplexes (without ligand) or naked plasmid. At the same time, CT26 tumor-bearing animals treated with Tf-lipoplexes containing the therapeutic gene IL-12, showed tumor growth inhibition, leading to a complete tumor regression in 75% of the treated mice (p < 0.001), without signs of recurrence. High levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma were detected in the sera of treated mice. Mice survival also improved considerably by treatment with this system, with a survival rate of 88%, at 23 days post-administration. In summary, in this study we have developed an efficient, targeted cationic lipid-based system for the treatment of colon tumors. The vector has the advantages of ease of preparation and economy, in comparison with commercial transfection reagents, as well as, the possibility of a large scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Conchita Tros De Ilarduya
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
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13
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Ellouze S, Augustin S, Bouaita A, Bonnet C, Simonutti M, Forster V, Picaud S, Sahel JA, Corral-Debrinski M. Optimized allotopic expression of the human mitochondrial ND4 prevents blindness in a rat model of mitochondrial dysfunction. Am J Hum Genet 2008; 83:373-87. [PMID: 18771762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2008.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2008] [Revised: 07/11/2008] [Accepted: 08/16/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial diseases due to mutations in mitochondrial DNA can no longer be ignored in most medical areas. With prevalence certainly higher than one in 6000, they probably represent the most common form of metabolic disorders. Despite progress in identification of their molecular mechanisms, little has been done with regard to therapy. We have recently optimized the allotopic expression for the mitochondrial genes ATP6, ND1, and ND4 and obtained a complete and long-lasting rescue of mitochondrial dysfunction in the human fibroblasts in which these genes were mutated. However, biosafety and benefit to mitochondrial function must be validated in animal models prior to clinical applications. To create an animal model of Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON), we introduced the human ND4 gene harboring the G11778A mutation, responsible of 60% of LHON cases, to rat eyes by in vivo electroporation. The treatment induced the degeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), which were 40% less abundant in treated eyes than in control eyes. This deleterious effect was also confirmed in primary cell culture, in which both RGC survival and neurite outgrowth were compromised. Importantly, RGC loss was clearly associated with a decline in visual performance. A subsequent electroporation with wild-type ND4 prevented both RGC loss and the impairment of visual function. Hence, these data provide the proof-of-principle that optimized allotopic expression can be an effective treatment for LHON, and they open the way to clinical studies on other devastating mitochondrial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Ellouze
- Institut de la Vision, Université Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris6, Unité mixte de recherche S 592, 17 rue Moreau, Paris F-75012, France
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14
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Wu A, Oh S, Ericson K, Demorest ZL, Vengco I, Gharagozlou S, Chen W, Low WC, Ohlfest JR. Transposon-based interferon gamma gene transfer overcomes limitations of episomal plasmid for immunogene therapy of glioblastoma. Cancer Gene Ther 2007; 14:550-60. [PMID: 17415381 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7701045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite improvements in gene delivery technology, transient expression of plasmid DNA has limited the efficacy of nonviral vectors applied to cancer gene therapy. We previously developed plasmid DNA vectors capable of transgene integration and long-term expression in human glioblastoma cells by utilizing the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposable element. In this study, we compared the efficacy of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) immunogene therapy using episomal or SB vectors in a syngeneic GL261 glioma model. Gene delivery was achieved by intratumoral convection-enhanced delivery of DNA/polyethylenimine complexes. Only mice treated with SB transposase-encoding DNA to facilitate chromosomal integration exhibited a significant increase in survival (P<0.05). SB-mediated intratumoral gene transfer caused sustained IFN-gamma expression assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, of both vector-derived and endogenous IFN-gamma, whereas expression following episomal plasmid gene transfer was undetectable within 2 weeks. Median survival was enhanced further when SB-mediated IFN-gamma gene transfer was combined with CpG oligodeoxynucleotides as adjuvant therapy. Prolonged survival positively correlated with tumor regression measured by in vivo bioluminescent imaging, and enhanced T-cell activation revealed by the ELISPOT assay. SB appears to improve the efficacy of cytokine gene therapy using nonviral vectors by enhancing the duration of transgene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Portsmouth D, Hlavaty J, Renner M. Suicide genes for cancer therapy. Mol Aspects Med 2007; 28:4-41. [PMID: 17306358 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2006.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2006] [Accepted: 12/18/2006] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The principle of using suicide genes for gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) of cancer has gained increasing significance during the 20 years since its inception. The astute application of suitable GDEPT systems should permit tumour ablation in the absence of off-target toxicity commonly associated with classical chemotherapy, a hypothesis which is supported by encouraging results in a multitude of pre-clinical animal models. This review provides a clear explanation of the rationale behind the GDEPT principle, outlining the advantages and limitations of different GDEPT strategies with respect to the roles of the bystander effect, the immune system and the selectivity of the activated prodrug in contributing to their therapeutic efficacy. An in-depth analysis of the most widely used suicide gene/prodrug combinations is presented, including details of the latest advances in enzyme and prodrug optimisation and results from the most recent clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Portsmouth
- Research Institute for Virology and Biomedicine, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
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Affiliation(s)
- Loree C Heller
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
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17
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Abstract
The utilisation of nonviral gene delivery methods has been increasing steadily, however, a drawback has been the relative low efficiency of gene transfer with naked DNA compared with viral delivery methods. In vivo electroporation, which has previously been used clinically to deliver chemotherapeutic agents, also enhances the delivery of plasmid DNA and has been used to deliver plasmids to several tissue types, particularly muscle and tumour. Recently, a large number of preclinical studies for a variety of therapeutic modalities have demonstrated the potential of electrically mediated gene transfer. Although clinical trials using gene transfer with in vivo electroporation have not as yet been realised, the tremendous growth of this technology suggests that the first trials will soon be initiated.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/therapy
- Electroporation
- Erythropoietin/administration & dosage
- Erythropoietin/genetics
- Erythropoietin/metabolism
- Forecasting
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Gene Transfer Techniques
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Genetic Therapy/trends
- Growth Substances/administration & dosage
- Growth Substances/genetics
- Growth Substances/metabolism
- Hematologic Diseases/genetics
- Hematologic Diseases/metabolism
- Hematologic Diseases/therapy
- Humans
- Injections, Intramuscular
- Interleukin-12/administration & dosage
- Interleukin-12/genetics
- Interleukin-12/metabolism
- Melanoma/genetics
- Melanoma/metabolism
- Melanoma/therapy
- Plasmids/administration & dosage
- Plasmids/genetics
- Plasmids/metabolism
- Protein Deficiency/genetics
- Protein Deficiency/metabolism
- Protein Deficiency/therapy
- Toxins, Biological/administration & dosage
- Toxins, Biological/genetics
- Toxins, Biological/metabolism
- Vaccines, DNA/administration & dosage
- Vaccines, DNA/genetics
- Vaccines, DNA/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Loree C Heller
- University of South Florida, Center of Molecular Delivery, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Center for Molecular Delivery, College of Medicine, Tampa, 33612-4799, USA.
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19
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Zi-Bo LI, Zhao-Jun ZENG, Qian CHEN, Sai-Qun LUO, Wei-Xin HU. Recombinant AAV-mediated HSVtk gene transfer with direct intratumoral injections and Tet-On regulation for implanted human breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2006; 6:66. [PMID: 16539746 PMCID: PMC1463003 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-6-66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2005] [Accepted: 03/16/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HSVtk/ganciclovir (GCV) gene therapy has been extensively studied in tumors and relies largely on the gene expression of HSVtk. Most studies, however, have failed to demonstrate any significant benefit of a controlled gene expression strategy in cancer treatment. The Tet-On system is commonly used to regulate gene expression following Dox induction. We have evaluated the antitumor effect of HSVtk/ganciclovir gene therapy under Tet-On regulation by means of adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV-2)-mediated HSVtk gene transfer with direct intratumoral injections in mice bearing breast cancer tumors. METHODS Recombinant adeno-associated virus-2 (rAAV) was constructed and transduced into MCF-7 cell line. GCV treatment to the rAAV infected MCF-7 cells was performed by MTT assay under the doxycycline (Dox) induction or without Dox induction at a vp (viral particle) number of > or =10(4)/cell. The virus was administered intratumorally to nude mice that had also received GCV intraperitoneally. The antitumor effects were evaluated by measuring tumor regression and histological analysis. RESULTS We have demonstrated that GCV treatment to the infected MCF-7 cells under the Dox induction was of more inhibited effects than those without Dox induction at > or =10(4) vp/cell. In ex vivo experiments, tumor growth of BALB/C nude mice breast cancer was retarded after rAAV-2/HSVtk/Tet-On was injected into the tumors under the Dox induction. Infiltrating cells were also observed in tumors after Dox induction followed by GCV treatment and cells were profoundly damaged. The expression of HSVtk gene in MCF-7 cells and BALB/C nude mice tumors was up-regulated by Tet-On under Dox induction with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis. CONCLUSION The antitumor effect of rAAV-mediated HSVtk/GCV gene therapy under the Dox induction with direct intratumoral injections may be a useful treatment for breast cancer and other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- LI Zi-Bo
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - ZENG Zhao-Jun
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - CHEN Qian
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - LUO Sai-Qun
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
| | - HU Wei-Xin
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Xiangya Medical College, Central South University, 110 Xiangya Road, Changsha, Hunan 410078, P. R. China
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20
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Hwang KS, Cho WK, Yoo J, Yun HJ, Kim S, Im DS. Adenovirus-mediated interleukin-12 gene transfer combined with cytosine deaminase followed by 5-fluorocytosine treatment exerts potent antitumor activity in Renca tumor-bearing mice. BMC Cancer 2005; 5:51. [PMID: 15910693 PMCID: PMC1168891 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-5-51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2004] [Accepted: 05/24/2005] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Therapeutic gene transfer affords a clinically feasible and safe approach to cancer treatment but a more effective modality is needed to improve clinical outcomes. Combined transfer of therapeutic genes with different modes of actions may be a means to this end. Interleukin-12 (IL-12), a heterodimeric immunoregulatory cytokine composed of covalently linked p35 and p40 subunits, has antitumor activity in animal models. The enzyme/prodrug strategy using cytosine deaminase (CD) and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) has been used for cancer gene therapy. We have evaluated the antitumor effect of combining IL-12 with CD gene transfer in mice bearing renal cell carcinoma (Renca) tumors. METHODS Adenoviral vectors were constructed encoding one or both subunits of murine IL-12 (Ad.p35, Ad.p40 and Ad.IL-12) or cytosine deaminase (Ad.CD). The functionality of the IL-12 or CD gene products expressed from these vectors was validated by splenic interferon (IFN)-gamma production or viability assays in cultured cells. Ad.p35 plus Ad.p40, or Ad.IL-12, with or without Ad.CD, were administered (single-dose) intratumorally to Renca tumor-bearing mice. The animals injected with Ad.CD also received 5-FC intraperitoneally. The antitumor effects were then evaluated by measuring tumor regression, mean animal survival time, splenic natural killer (NK) cell activity and IFN-gamma production. RESULTS The inhibition of tumor growth in mice treated with Ad.p35 plus Ad.p40 and Ad.CD, followed by injection of 5-FC, was significantly greater than that in mice treated with Ad.CD/5-FC, a mixture of Ad.p35 plus Ad.p40, or Ad.GFP (control). The combined gene transfer increased splenic NK cell activity and IFN-gamma production by splenocytes. Ad.CD/5-FC treatment significantly increased the antitumor effect of Ad.IL-12 in terms of tumor growth inhibition and mean animal survival time. CONCLUSION The results suggest that adenovirus-mediated IL-12 gene transfer combined with Ad.CD followed by 5-FC treatment may be useful for treating cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyung-Sun Hwang
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Virology, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Won-Kyung Cho
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Virology, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinsang Yoo
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Virology, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Hwan-Jung Yun
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Samyong Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Soo Im
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy and Virology, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yusong, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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