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Pampeno C, Opp S, Hurtado A, Meruelo D. Sindbis Virus Vaccine Platform: A Promising Oncolytic Virus-Mediated Approach for Ovarian Cancer Treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2925. [PMID: 38474178 PMCID: PMC10932354 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This review article provides a comprehensive overview of a novel Sindbis virus vaccine platform as potential immunotherapy for ovarian cancer patients. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal of all gynecological malignancies. The majority of high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Current treatment options are very aggressive and limited, resulting in tumor recurrences and 50-60% patient mortality within 5 years. The unique properties of armed oncolytic Sindbis virus vectors (SV) in vivo have garnered significant interest in recent years to potently target and treat ovarian cancer. We discuss the molecular biology of Sindbis virus, its mechanisms of action against ovarian cancer cells, preclinical in vivo studies, and future perspectives. The potential of Sindbis virus-based therapies for ovarian cancer treatment holds great promise and warrants further investigation. Investigations using other oncolytic viruses in preclinical studies and clinical trials are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Pampeno
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | | | - Alicia Hurtado
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Daniel Meruelo
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Pampeno C, Hurtado A, Opp S, Meruelo D. Channeling the Natural Properties of Sindbis Alphavirus for Targeted Tumor Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14948. [PMID: 37834397 PMCID: PMC10573789 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sindbis alphavirus vectors offer a promising platform for cancer therapy, serving as valuable models for alphavirus-based treatment. This review emphasizes key studies that support the targeted delivery of Sindbis vectors to tumor cells, highlighting their effectiveness in expressing tumor-associated antigens and immunomodulating proteins. Among the various alphavirus vectors developed for cancer therapy, Sindbis-vector-based imaging studies have been particularly extensive. Imaging modalities that enable the in vivo localization of Sindbis vectors within lymph nodes and tumors are discussed. The correlation between laminin receptor expression, tumorigenesis, and Sindbis virus infection is examined. Additionally, we present alternative entry receptors for Sindbis and related alphaviruses, such as Semliki Forest virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. The review also discusses cancer treatments that are based on the alphavirus vector expression of anti-tumor agents, including tumor-associated antigens, cytokines, checkpoint inhibitors, and costimulatory immune molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Daniel Meruelo
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Opp S, Hurtado A, Pampeno C, Lin Z, Meruelo D. Potent and Targeted Sindbis Virus Platform for Immunotherapy of Ovarian Cancer. Cells 2022; 12:77. [PMID: 36611875 PMCID: PMC9818975 DOI: 10.3390/cells12010077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Our laboratory has been developing a Sindbis viral (SV) vector platform for treatments of ovarian and other types of cancers. In this study we show that SV.IL-12 combined with an agonistic OX40 antibody can eliminate ovarian cancer in a Mouse Ovarian Surface Epithelial Cell Line (MOSEC) model and further prevent tumors in mice rechallenged with tumor cells after approximately 5 months. Treatment efficacy is shown to be dependent upon T-cells that are transcriptionally and metabolically reprogramed. An influx of immune cells to the tumor microenvironment occurs. Combination of sequences encoding both IL-12 and anti-OX40 into a single SV vector, SV.IgGOX40.IL-12, facilitates the local delivery of immunoregulatory agents to tumors enhancing the anti-tumor response. We promote SV.IgGOX40.IL-12 as a safe and effective therapy for multiple types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Meruelo
- Department of Pathology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 10016, USA
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Viral Proteins as Emerging Cancer Therapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13092199. [PMID: 34063663 PMCID: PMC8125098 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13092199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review is focused on enlisting viral proteins from different host sources, irrespective of their origin, that may act as future cancer curatives. Unlike the viral proteins that are responsible for tumor progression, these newly emerged viral proteins function as tumor suppressors. Their ability to regulate various cell signaling mechanisms specifically in cancer cells makes them interesting candidates to explore their use in cancer therapy. The discussion about such viral components may provide new insights into cancer treatment in the absence of any adverse effects to normal cells. The study also highlights avian viral proteins as a substitute to human oncolytic viruses for their ability to evade pre-existing immunity. Abstract Viruses are obligatory intracellular parasites that originated millions of years ago. Viral elements cover almost half of the human genome sequence and have evolved as genetic blueprints in humans. They have existed as endosymbionts as they are largely dependent on host cell metabolism. Viral proteins are known to regulate different mechanisms in the host cells by hijacking cellular metabolism to benefit viral replication. Amicable viral proteins, on the other hand, from several viruses can participate in mediating growth retardation of cancer cells based on genetic abnormalities while sparing normal cells. These proteins exert discreet yet converging pathways to regulate events like cell cycle and apoptosis in human cancer cells. This property of viral proteins could be harnessed for their use in cancer therapy. In this review, we discuss viral proteins from different sources as potential anticancer therapeutics.
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Scherwitzl I, Hurtado A, Pierce CM, Vogt S, Pampeno C, Meruelo D. Systemically Administered Sindbis Virus in Combination with Immune Checkpoint Blockade Induces Curative Anti-tumor Immunity. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 9:51-63. [PMID: 29988525 PMCID: PMC6026467 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses represent a promising form of cancer immunotherapy. We investigated the potential of Sindbis virus (SV) for the treatment of solid tumors expressing the human cancer testis antigen NYESO-1. NYESO-1 is an immunogenic antigen frequently expressed in numerous cancers, such as ovarian cancer. We show that SV expressing the tumor-associated antigen NYESO-1 (SV-NYESO1) acts as an immunostimulatory agent, inducing systemic and rapid lymphocyte activation, leading to a pro-inflammatory environment. SV-NYESO1 treatment combined with anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) markedly augmented the anti-tumor immunity in mice over the course of treatment, resulting in an avid systemic and intratumoral immune response. This response involved reduced presence of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumors and an increase in the activation of splenic and tumor-infiltrating T cells. Combined therapy also induced enhanced cytotoxic activity of T cells against NYESO-1-expressing tumors. These results were in line with an observed inverse correlation between T cell activation and tumor growth. Finally, we show that combined therapy resulted in complete clearance of NYESO-1-expressing tumors in vivo and led to long-term protection against recurrences. These findings provide a rationale for clinical studies of SV-NYESO1 combined with immune checkpoint blockade anti-PD-1 to be used in the treatment of NYESO-1-expressing tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Scherwitzl
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Alicia Hurtado
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Carolyn M Pierce
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Sandra Vogt
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Christine Pampeno
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Daniel Meruelo
- Department of Pathology, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
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McCall RL, Cacaccio J, Wrabel E, Schwartz ME, Coleman TP, Sirianni RW. Pathogen-inspired drug delivery to the central nervous system. Tissue Barriers 2014; 2:e944449. [PMID: 25610755 PMCID: PMC4292043 DOI: 10.4161/21688362.2014.944449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 06/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
For as long as the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been evolving to exclude bloodborne agents from the central nervous system (CNS), pathogens have adopted a multitude of strategies to bypass it. Some pathogens, notably viruses and certain bacteria, enter the CNS in whole form, achieving direct physical passage through endothelial or neuronal cells to infect the brain. Other pathogens, including bacteria and multicellular eukaryotic organisms, secrete toxins that preferentially interact with specific cell types to exert a broad range of biological effects on peripheral and central neurons. In this review, we will discuss the directed mechanisms that viruses, bacteria, and the toxins secreted by higher order organisms use to enter the CNS. Our goal is to identify ligand-mediated strategies that could be used to improve the brain-specific delivery of engineered nanocarriers, including polymers, lipids, biologically sourced materials, and imaging agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L McCall
- Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center; Barrow Neurological Institute ; Phoenix, AZ USA
| | | | - Eileen Wrabel
- Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc. ; Worcester, MA USA
| | | | - Timothy P Coleman
- Blue Ocean Biomanufacturing , Worcester, MA USA ; Nemucore Medical Innovations, Inc. ; Worcester, MA USA ; Center for Translational Cancer Nanomedicine; Northeastern University ; Boston, MA USA ; Foundation for the Advancement of Personalized Medicine Manufacturing ; Phoenix, AZ USA
| | - Rachael W Sirianni
- Barrow Brain Tumor Research Center; Barrow Neurological Institute ; Phoenix, AZ USA
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Dey M, Auffinger B, Lesniak MS, Ahmed AU. Antiglioma oncolytic virotherapy: unattainable goal or a success story in the making? Future Virol 2013; 8:675-693. [PMID: 24910708 DOI: 10.2217/fvl.13.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Initial observations from as early as the mid-1800s suggested that patients suffering from hematological malignancies would transiently go into remission upon naturally contracting viral infections laid the foundation for the oncolytic virotherapy research field. Since then, research focusing on anticancer oncolytic virotherapy has rapidly evolved. Today, oncolytic viral vectors have been engineered to stimulate and manipulate the host immune system, selectively targeting tumor tissues while sparing non-neoplastic cells. Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common adult primary brain tumor, has a disasterous history. It is one of the most deadly cancers known to humankind. Over the last century our understanding of this disease has grown exponentially. However, the median survival of patients suffering from this disease has only been extended by a few months. Even with the best, most aggressive modern therapeutic approaches available, malignant gliomas are still virtually 100% fatal. Motivated by the desperate need to find effective treatment strategies, more investments have been applied to oncolytic virotherapy preclinical and clinical studies. In this review we will discuss the antiglioma oncolytic virotherapy research field. We will survey its history and the principles laid down to serve as basis for preclinical works. We will also debate the variety of viral vectors used, their clinical applications, the lessons learned from clinical trials and possible future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahua Dey
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Brenda Auffinger
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Atique U Ahmed
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC 3026, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Alphavirus vectors for cancer therapy. Virus Res 2010; 153:179-96. [PMID: 20692305 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2010.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2010] [Revised: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 07/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Alphaviruses contain a single strand RNA genome that can be easily modified to express heterologous genes at very high levels in a broad variety of cells, including tumor cells. Alphavirus vectors can be used as viral particles containing a packaged vector RNA, or directly as nucleic acids in the form of RNA or DNA. In the latter case alphavirus RNA is cloned within a DNA vector downstream of a eukaryotic promoter. Expression mediated by these vectors is generally transient due to the induction of apoptosis. The high expression levels, induction of apoptosis, and activation of type I IFN response are the key features that have made alphavirus vectors very attractive for cancer treatment and vaccination. Alphavirus vectors have been successfully used as vaccines to induce protective and therapeutic immune responses against many tumor-associated antigens in animal models of mastocytoma, melanoma, mammary, prostate, and virally induced tumors. Alphavirus vectors have also shown a high antitumoral efficacy by expressing antitumoral molecules in tumor cells, which include cytokines, antiangiogenic factors or toxic proteins. In these studies induction of apoptosis in tumor cells contributed to the antitumoral efficacy by the release of tumor antigens that can be uptaken by antigen presenting cells, enhancing immune responses against tumors. The potential use of alphaviruses as oncolytic agents has also been evaluated for avirulent strains of Semliki Forest virus and Sindbis virus. The fact that this latter virus has a natural tropism for tumor cells has led to many studies in which this vector was able to reach metastatic tumors when administered systemically. Other "artificial" strategies to increase the tropism of alphavirus for tumors have also been evaluated and will be discussed.
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Westrich J, Yaeger P, He C, Stewart J, Chen R, Seleznik G, Larson S, Wentworth B, O'callaghan M, Wadsworth S, Akita G, Molnar G. Factors Affecting Residence Time of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSC) Injected into the Myocardium. Cell Transplant 2010; 19:937-48. [DOI: 10.3727/096368910x494911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic mechanism of mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction is not well understood. Our goal was to get insights into this mechanism by analyzing the survival kinetics of allogeneic and syngeneic cell transplants under different tissue conditions. Two MSC cell banks, stably and equally expressing the luciferase reporter construct, were developed for these studies and injected directly to the myocardium of Lewis rat recipients under syngeneic or allogeneic transplantation conditions. Cell survival was monitored by real-time fashion for up to 2 weeks, using optical imaging device (IVIS, Xenogen Corp.). We found that both syngeneic and allogeneic grafts reduced significantly in size during the first week of transplantation, either in the normal or in the late infarcted heart (5 days after MI) and allotransplants became always smaller than syngeneic grafts during this period. Low dose of cyclosporine A treatment had a benefit on both allo- and syngeneic graft sizes, suggesting that multiple mechanisms play a role in early graft reduction. The MSC characteristic factors IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF were well above the control level in the heart tissue at 4 days after cell injection, suggesting that the peak therapeutic effect of MSC can be expected during the first week of the administration. Although allogeneic cells induced immunoglobulin production, their biological effects (cell survival, factor productions) are very similar to the syngeneic transplants and therefore they could deliver the same therapeutic effect as the syngeneic cells. Finally, freshly infarcted tissue (30 min) supported better the survival of MSC than late postischemic tissue (5 days) but only “off the shelf” allogeneic cell transplants fits with this treatment strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Westrich
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Peter Yaeger
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Chufa He
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Jeff Stewart
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Raymond Chen
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | | | - Shane Larson
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Bruce Wentworth
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | | | - Sam Wadsworth
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Geoffrey Akita
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Gyongyi Molnar
- Cardiovascular Department of Genzyme Corporation, Framingham, MA, USA
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Abstract
Alphavirus vectors are high-level, transient expression vectors for therapeutic and prophylactic use. These positive-stranded RNA vectors, derived from Semliki Forest virus, Sindbis virus and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, multiply and are expressed in the cytoplasm of most vertebrate cells, including human cells. Part of the genome encoding the structural protein genes, which is amplified during a normal infection, is replaced by a transgene. Three types of vector have been developed: virus-like particles, layered DNA-RNA vectors and replication-competent vectors. Virus-like particles contain replicon RNA that is defective since it contains a cloned gene in place of the structural protein genes, and thus are able to undergo only one cycle of expression. They are produced by transfection of vector RNA, and helper RNAs encoding the structural proteins. Layered DNA-RNA vectors express the Semliki Forest virus replicon from a cDNA copy via a cytomegalovirus promoter. Replication-competent vectors contain a transgene in addition to the structural protein genes. Alphavirus vectors are used for three main applications: vaccine construction, therapy of central nervous system disease, and cancer therapy.
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Hurtado A, Tseng JC, Meruelo D. Gene therapy that safely targets and kills tumor cells throughout the body. Rejuvenation Res 2006; 9:36-44. [PMID: 16608394 DOI: 10.1089/rej.2006.9.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The authors studied the therapeutic value of Sindbis vectors for advanced metastatic cancer by using a variety of clinically accurate mouse models and demonstrated through imaging, histological, and molecular data that Sindbis vectors systemically and specifically infect/detect and kill metastasized tumors in vivo, leading to significant suppression of tumor growth and enhanced survival. Use of two different bioluminescent genetic markers for the IVIS Imaging System (Xenogen Corp., Alameda, CA) permitted demonstration of an excellent correlation between vector delivery and metastatic locations in vivo. Sindbis tumor specificity is not attributable to a species difference between human tumor and mouse normal cells. Sindbis virus is known to infect mammalian cells using the Mr 67,000 laminin receptor, which is elevated in tumor versus normal cells, and downregulated expression of laminin receptor with small interfering RNA significantly reduces the infectivity of Sindbis vectors. Tumor overexpression of the laminin receptor may explain the specificity and efficacy that Sindbis vectors demonstrate for tumor cells in vivo. Laser capture microdissection of mouse tumor implants showed equivalent laminin receptor expression levels in the different tumor metastases in the peritoneal cavity. Incorporation of antitumor cytokine genes such as interleukin-12 and interleukin-15 genes enhances the efficacy of the vector. These results suggest that Sindbis viral vectors may be promising agents for both specific detection and growth suppression of metastatic ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Hurtado
- Department of Pathology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016, USA
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