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Zaimy MA, Saffarzadeh N, Mohammadi A, Pourghadamyari H, Izadi P, Sarli A, Moghaddam LK, Paschepari SR, Azizi H, Torkamandi S, Tavakkoly-Bazzaz J. New methods in the diagnosis of cancer and gene therapy of cancer based on nanoparticles. Cancer Gene Ther 2017; 24:233-243. [PMID: 28574057 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2017.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading cause of death in the world with the prevalence of >10 million mortalities annually. Current cancer treatments include surgical intervention, radiation, and taking chemotherapeutic drugs, which often kill the healthy cells and result in toxicity in patients. Therefore, researchers are looking for ways to be able to eliminate just cancerous cells. Intra-tumor heterogeneity of cancerous cells is the main obstacle on the way of an effective cancer treatment. However, better comprehension of molecular basis of tumor and the advent of new diagnostic technologies can help to improve the treatment of various cancers. Therefore, study of epigenetic changes, gene expression of cancerous cells and employing methods that enable us to correct or minimize these changes is critically important. In this paper, we will review the recent advanced strategies being used in the field of cancer research.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Zaimy
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - N Saffarzadeh
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Mohammadi
- Center of Excellence for Biodiversity, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - H Pourghadamyari
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - P Izadi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - A Sarli
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - L K Moghaddam
- Department of Developmental Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - S R Paschepari
- Department of Developmental Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Azad University, Tehran North Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - H Azizi
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Zabol University of Medical Sciences, Zabol, Iran
| | - S Torkamandi
- Department of Medical Genetics and immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - J Tavakkoly-Bazzaz
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Wohlfahrt ME, Beard BC, Lieber A, Kiem HP. A capsid-modified, conditionally replicating oncolytic adenovirus vector expressing TRAIL Leads to enhanced cancer cell killing in human glioblastoma models. Cancer Res 2007; 67:8783-90. [PMID: 17875719 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-0357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive brain tumor, and patients rarely survive for more than 2 years. Gene therapy may offer new treatment options and improve the prognosis for patients with GBM. Adenovirus-mediated gene therapy strategies for brain tumors have been limited by inefficient gene transfer due to low expression of the adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) receptor. We have used an adenovirus vector that specifically replicates in tumor cells and uses an Ad5 capsid and the adenovirus serotype (Ad35) fiber for efficient infection of malignant tumor cells. This vector also expresses adenovirus E1A and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) in a tumor-specific manner. Here, we show that this oncolytic vector (Ad5/Ad35.IR-E1A/TRAIL) efficiently infects the GBM tumor cell lines SF767, T98G, and U-87 MG. Tumor cell killing was markedly enhanced with Ad5/Ad35.IR-E1A/TRAIL compared with wild-type Ad5 and Ad35 virus or Ad5/Ad35.IR-E1A- vectors without TRAIL expression in vitro. In vivo experiments using s.c. xenografted U-87 MG cells in NOD/SCID mice showed a significant growth delay of tumors after i.t. injection of Ad5/Ad35.IR-E1A/TRAIL, whereas adenovirus wild-type injections showed only marginal or no effect. Our findings indicate that the use of a capsid-modified adenoviral vector, in combination with TRAIL expression, is a promising novel approach for gene therapy of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin E Wohlfahrt
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109-1024, USA
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Tsuruta Y, Pereboeva L, Glasgow JN, Rein DT, Kawakami Y, Alvarez RD, Rocconi RP, Siegal GP, Dent P, Fisher PB, Curiel DT. A mosaic fiber adenovirus serotype 5 vector containing reovirus sigma 1 and adenovirus serotype 3 knob fibers increases transduction in an ovarian cancer ex vivo system via a coxsackie and adenovirus receptor-independent pathway. Clin Cancer Res 2007; 13:2777-83. [PMID: 17473211 PMCID: PMC2211731 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-06-2706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) has been used for gene therapy with limited success due to insufficient infectivity in cells with low expression of the primary receptor, the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR). Evidence that adenovirus serotype receptors other than CAR may be of use was presented in previous studies that showed that the Ad3 receptor is expressed at high levels in ovarian cancer cells. We hypothesized that combined use of unique chimeric fibers in the context of novel mosaic adenovirus vectors would enhance infectivity via non-CAR pathways in ovarian cancer cells. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We constructed and characterized Ad5 vectors that use Ad3 knob and reovirus fibers to generate a mosaic fiber virion. Serotype 3 Dearing reovirus uses a fiber-like sigma 1 protein to infect cells expressing sialic acid and junction adhesion molecule 1. We therefore constructed a mosaic fiber Ad5 vector, designated Ad5/3-sigma 1, encoding two fibers: a sigma 1 chimeric fiber and the chimeric Ad5/3 fiber composed of an Ad3 knob. RESULTS Functionally, Ad5/3-sigma 1 used sialic acid, junction adhesion molecule 1, and Ad3 receptor for cell transduction and achieved maximum infectivity enhancement in ovarian cancer cells with low CAR expression. Furthermore, Ad5/3-sigma 1 achieved infectivity enhancement in primary tissue slices of human ovarian tumor. CONCLUSIONS We have developed a new type of Ad5 vector with the novel tropism, possessing fibers from Ad3 and reovirus, which exhibits enhanced infectivity via CAR-independent pathway(s). In addition, the flexible genetic platform of vector allows different combination of fiber variants that can be incorporated within the same particle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Tsuruta
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
| | - Larisa Pereboeva
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
| | - Joel N. Glasgow
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Division of Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Daniel T. Rein
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Düsseldorf Medical Center, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Yosuke Kawakami
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
| | - Ronald D. Alvarez
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Rodney P. Rocconi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Gene P. Siegal
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Departments of Pathology, Cell Biology, and Surgery, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Paul Dent
- Department of Biochemistry, Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B. Fisher
- Departments of Pathology, Neurosurgery, and Urology, Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York
| | - David T. Curiel
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
- Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology, and Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham Gene Therapy Center
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Bourbeau D, Lau CJ, Jaime J, Koty Z, Zehntner SP, Lavoie G, Mes-Masson AM, Nalbantoglu J, Massie B. Improvement of Antitumor Activity by Gene Amplification with a Replicating but Nondisseminating Adenovirus. Cancer Res 2007; 67:3387-95. [PMID: 17409449 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-06-4317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising approach for cancer treatment; however, efficacy of current vectors remains insufficient. To improve the success of suicide gene therapy, we constructed a replication-competent adenoviral vector that has its protease gene deleted and expresses bacterial cytosine deaminase fused with bacterial uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (CU). The prodrug, 5-fluorocytosine, is transformed into the highly toxic and tissue-diffusible 5-fluorouracil by CU in infected cells. This vector is incapable of producing infectious particles but is able to undergo a single round of replication, thereby increasing transgene copy number and expression. In the presence of 5-FC, compared with the first-generation vector (AdCU), the replication-competent vector, Ad(dPS)CU-IRES-E1A, was significantly more efficacious for in vitro tumor cell killing and in bystander assays, whereas 25-fold fewer viral particles were required in a three-dimensional spheroid model. For in vivo experiments, in which virus was injected into preestablished intracranial glioma xenografts, followed by 5-FC treatment, mice receiving Ad(dPS)CU-IRES-E1A had significantly smaller tumors at 35 days postinjection as well as significantly longer median survival than mice treated with the replication-deficient, protease-deleted vector [Ad(dPS)CU]. In an immunocompetent syngeneic model, Ad(dPS)CU + 5-FC-treated mice had a median survival of only 23 days, whereas Ad(dPS)CU-IRES-E1A + 5-FC-treated animals had a survival of 57.1% at 365 days. In conclusion, Ad(dPS)CU-IRES-E1A in the presence of 5-FC produces more potent tumoricidal effects than its replication-deficient counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis Bourbeau
- Groupe de Vecteurs de Génomique et Thérapie Génique, Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council, Montreal, QC, Canada
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5
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Wang Y, Yuan F. Delivery of viral vectors to tumor cells: extracellular transport, systemic distribution, and strategies for improvement. Ann Biomed Eng 2006; 34:114-27. [PMID: 16520902 DOI: 10.1007/s10439-005-9007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2004] [Accepted: 06/30/2005] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
It is a challenge to deliver therapeutic genes to tumor cells using viral vectors because (i) the size of these vectors are close to or larger than the space between fibers in extracellular matrix and (ii) viral proteins are potentially toxic in normal tissues. In general, gene delivery is hindered by various physiological barriers to virus transport from the site of injection to the nucleus of tumor cells and is limited by normal tissue tolerance of toxicity determined by local concentrations of transgene products and viral proteins. To illustrate the obstacles encountered in the delivery and yet limit the scope of discussion, this review focuses only on extracellular transport in solid tumors and distribution of viral vectors in normal organs after they are injected intravenously or intratumorally. This review also discusses current strategies for improving intratumoral transport and specificity of viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Stoff-Khalili MA, Stoff A, Rivera AA, Banerjee NS, Everts M, Young S, Siegal GP, Richter DF, Wang M, Dall P, Mathis JM, Zhu ZB, Curiel DT. Preclinical evaluation of transcriptional targeting strategies for carcinoma of the breast in a tissue slice model system. Breast Cancer Res 2005; 7:R1141-52. [PMID: 16457694 PMCID: PMC1410735 DOI: 10.1186/bcr1353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2005] [Revised: 09/25/2005] [Accepted: 10/18/2005] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In view of the limited success of available treatment modalities for metastatic breast cancer, alternative and complementary strategies need to be developed. Adenoviral vector mediated strategies for breast cancer gene therapy and virotherapy are a promising novel therapeutic platform for the treatment of breast cancer. However, the promiscuous tropism of adenoviruses (Ads) is a major concern. Employing tissue specific promoters (TSPs) to restrict transgene expression or viral replication is an effective way to increase specificity towards tumor tissues and to reduce adverse effects in non-target tissues such as the liver. In this regard, candidate breast cancer TSPs include promoters of the genes for the epithelial glycoprotein 2 (EGP-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2), α-chemokine SDF-1 receptor (stromal-cell-derived factor, CXCR4), secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI) and survivin. Methods We employed E1-deleted Ads that express the reporter gene luciferase under the control of the promoters of interest. We evaluated this class of vectors in various established breast cancer cell lines, primary breast cancer cells and finally in the most stringent preclinical available substrate system, constituted by precision cut tissue slices of human breast cancer and liver. Results Overall, the CXCR4 promoter exhibited the highest luciferase activity in breast cancer cell lines, primary breast cancer cells and breast cancer tissue slices. Importantly, the CXCR4 promoter displayed a very low activity in human primary fibroblasts and human liver tissue slices. Interestingly, gene expression profiles correlated with the promoter activities both in breast cancer cell lines and primary breast cancer cells. Conclusion These data suggest that the CXCR4 promoter has an ideal 'breast cancer-on/liver-off' profile, and could, therefore, be a powerful tool in Ad vector based gene therapy or virotherapy of the carcinoma of the breast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam A Stoff-Khalili
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Duesseldorf, Medical Center, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Alexander Stoff
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dreifaltigkeits-Hospital, 50389 Wesseling, Germany
| | - Angel A Rivera
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Nilam S Banerjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Maaike Everts
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Scott Young
- Department of Pathology, Cellular Biology, and Surgery and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Gene P Siegal
- Department of Pathology, Cellular Biology, and Surgery and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Dirk F Richter
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Dreifaltigkeits-Hospital, 50389 Wesseling, Germany
| | - Minghui Wang
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - Peter Dall
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Duesseldorf, Medical Center, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - J Michael Mathis
- Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
| | - Zeng B Zhu
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
| | - David T Curiel
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Surgery, Pathology and the Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birminham, AL 35294-2172, USA
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7
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Anton M, Gomaa IEO, von Lukowicz T, Molls M, Gansbacher B, Würschmidt F. Optimization of radiation controlled gene expression by adenoviral vectors in vitro. Cancer Gene Ther 2005; 12:640-6. [PMID: 15803145 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The radiation-inducible EGR-1-promoter has been used in different gene therapy approaches in order to enhance and locally restrict therapeutic efficacy. The aim of this study was to reduce nonspecific gene expression in the absence of irradiation (IR) in an adenoviral vector. Rat rhabdomyosarcoma R1H tumor cells were infected with adenoviral vectors expressing either EGFP or HSV-TK under control of the murine EGR-1 promoter/enhancer. Cells were irradiated at 0-6 Gy. Gene expression was determined by FACS-analysis (EGFP), or crystal violet staining (HSV-TK). The bovine growth hormone polyadenylation signal (BGH pA) was used as insulating sequence and was introduced upstream or upstream and downstream of the expression cassette. Infected R1H cells displayed IR dose-dependent EGFP expression. Cells treated with IR, AdEGR.TK and ganciclovir displayed a survival of 17.3% (6 Gy). However, significant gene expression was observed in the absence of IR with EGR.TK and EGR.EGFP constructs. Introduction of BGHpA upstream or upstream and downstream of expression cassette resulted in decreased nonspecific cytotoxicity by a factor of 1.6-2.3 with minor influence on the induced level of cytotoxicity. Introduction of insulating sequences in adenoviral vectors might allow tighter temporospatial control of gene expression by the radiation-inducible EGR-1 promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Anton
- Institut für Experimentelle Onkologie & Therapieforschung, München, Germany.
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Vanoosten RL, Moore JM, Ludwig AT, Griffith TS. Depsipeptide (FR901228) Enhances the Cytotoxic Activity of TRAIL by Redistributing TRAIL Receptor to Membrane Lipid Rafts. Mol Ther 2005; 11:542-52. [PMID: 15771957 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2004.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2004] [Accepted: 12/07/2004] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
TRAIL (TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) induces apoptosis in various tumor cell types and is under investigation as a cancer therapeutic. The development of a recombinant adenovirus encoding the full-length human TRAIL gene (Ad5-TRAIL) replaces the need for large quantities of soluble TRAIL protein in tumor suppressive therapies. However, the full potential of Ad5-TRAIL has not yet been maximized. Recent investigation of a histone deacetylase inhibitor, depsipeptide (FR901228), has demonstrated that it increases cellular susceptibility to adenovirus infection and augments adenoviral transgene expression. Thus, studies were initiated to evaluate the ability of depsipeptide to enhance the cytotoxic activity of Ad5-TRAIL against human prostate tumor cells. In vitro, depsipeptide increased expression of coxsackie-adenovirus receptor, leading to increased adenoviral infection and transgene expression. Additionally, tumor cell killing by Ad5-TRAIL was higher following depsipeptide pretreatment. More surprisingly, depsipeptide also increased prostate tumor cell sensitivity to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Investigation into the mechanism responsible for increased TRAIL responsiveness revealed increased levels of TRAIL-R1 and -R2 in membrane lipid rafts following depsipeptide treatment. These results indicate that depsipeptide is a potent agent for enhancing the activity of Ad5-TRAIL by multiple mechanisms, allowing for a more efficient use of Ad5-TRAIL as an antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca L Vanoosten
- Department of Urology, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242-1089, USA
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Kloeckner J, Prasmickaite L, Høgset A, Berg K, Wagner E. Photochemically enhanced gene delivery of EGF receptor-targeted DNA polyplexes. J Drug Target 2005; 12:205-13. [PMID: 15506169 DOI: 10.1080/10611860410001723090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) targeted DNA polyplexes, containing polyethylenimine (PEI) conjugated with EGF protein as cell-binding ligand for endocytosis and polyethylene glycol (PEG) for masking the polyplex surface charge, mediated a 3- to 30-fold higher luciferase gene expression in HUH7, HepG2 and A431 cell transfections than analogous untargeted PEG-PEI polyplexes. Transfection levels can be further enhanced by treatment of cells with amphiphilic photosensitizers followed by illumination. In this process photosensitizers localized in membranes of endocytic vesicles are activated by light, resulting in the destruction of endocytic membrane structures and releasing co-endocytosed polyplexes into the cell cytosol. Photochemical enhanced gene expression was observed in all cell lines, with the magnitude of enhancement depending on the particular PEI polyplex formulation and cell line, ranging between 2- and 600-fold. Importantly, improved gene transfer retained EGF receptor specificity, as demonstrated by comparison with ligand-free polyplexes and by receptor antibody or ligand competition experiments. These results suggest that this combined procedure enables a dual mode of targeting polyplexes: biological targeting via EGFR interaction, combined with physical targeting with light to direct a photochemical delivery of therapeutic genes to a desired location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kloeckner
- Pharmaceutical Biology-Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet, Butenandtstr. 5-13, D-81377 Munich, Germany
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Nakayama K, Pergolizzi RG, Crystal RG. Gene Transfer–Mediated Pre-mRNA Segmental Trans-splicing As a Strategy to Deliver Intracellular Toxins for Cancer Therapy. Cancer Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.254.65.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Virus-mediated transfer of genes coding for intracellular toxins holds promise for cancer therapy, but the inherent toxicity of such vectors make them a risk to normal tissues and a challenge to produce due to the intrinsic dilemma that expression of toxin molecules kills producer cells. We employed pre-mRNA segmental trans-splicing (STS), in which two engineered DNA fragments coding for 5′ “donor” and 3′ “acceptor” segments of a toxin gene, respectively, are expressed by viral vectors. When co-delivered to target cells, the two vectors generate two toxin pre-mRNA fragments which are spliced by the target cell machinery to produce functional mRNA and toxin. To test this approach, we used an enzymatic fragment of Shigatoxin1A1 (STX1A1) known to provoke apoptotic cell death. Two adenovirus vectors, Shigatoxin1A1 donor (AdStx1A1Do) and Shigatoxin1A1 acceptor (AdStx1A1Ac), respectively, were used to deliver the Stx1A1 gene fragments. HeLa, HEp2, and A549 cells transfected with AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac had a dose-dependent reduction in viability and inhibition of protein synthesis. Intratumoral injection of AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac into preexisting HeLa, Hep2, and A549 tumors in immunodeficient mice revealed significant inhibition of tumor growth. There was no evidence of liver damage, suggesting that there was no leakage of vector or toxin from the site of injection following intratumoral injection of AdStx1A1Do and AdStx1A1Ac. These results suggest that the obstacles preventing gene transfer of intracellular toxins for local cancer therapy could be overcome by pre-mRNA segmental trans-splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsutoshi Nakayama
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Robert G. Pergolizzi
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
| | - Ronald G. Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York
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Hirayama R, Nishida K, Fumoto S, Nakashima M, Sasaki H, Nakamura J. Unilateral Kidney-Selective Gene Transfer Following the Administration of Naked Plasmid DNA to the Kidney Surface in Mice. Biol Pharm Bull 2005; 28:181-4. [PMID: 15635189 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.28.181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We developed a gene transfer following the administration of naked plasmid DNA (pDNA) to the kidney surface in mice, and found that the luciferase levels produced in the applied kidney were significantly higher than those produced in another kidney. In contrast, stable renal gene expression was not observed in the case of intraperitoneal or intravenous administration of pDNA. The level of gene expression after instillation of pDNA to the kidney surface reached maximum at 12 h and gradually diminished thereafter. The production of luciferase was saturated at 5 microg of pDNA, and was not affected by instillation volume. Furthermore, pDNA uptake from the kidney surface was proved by in situ experiments using a glass-made diffusion cell. We demonstrated a novel unilateral kidney-selective gene transfer following the administration of naked pDNA to the kidney surface in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryu Hirayama
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, Japan
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12
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Tupper J, Greco O, Tozer GM, Dachs GU. Analysis of the horseradish peroxidase/indole-3-acetic acid combination in a three-dimensional tumor model. Cancer Gene Ther 2004; 11:508-13. [PMID: 15143345 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Horseradish peroxidase has previously been shown to catalyze the conversion of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) to a potent cytotoxin in a gene therapy setting. A three-dimensional spheroid model composed of a human head and neck carcinoma cell line, has been used to mimic the tumor microenvironment, such as regions of hypoxia. Exposure of intact spheroids to 0.05-5 mM concentrations of IAA and the halogenated indole, 5-bromoindole-3-acetic acid (5Br-IAA), resulted in decreased cell survival, and demonstrates that this combination is effective under tumor-simulated conditions. In addition, 5Br-IAA, displayed selectivity for spheroids with a large hypoxic fraction following short exposure times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Tupper
- Gray Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 100, Mount Vernon Hospital, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2JR, UK
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13
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Hu B, Joshua MN, Dong C, Qi Y. Development of a novel recombinant adenovirus containing gfp–zeocin fusion expression cassette for conditional replication in p53-deficient human tumor cells. J Virol Methods 2004; 117:129-36. [PMID: 15041209 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2004.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2003] [Revised: 12/06/2003] [Accepted: 01/12/2004] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Two obstacles limiting the efficacy of nearly all cancer gene therapy trails are low gene transduction efficiency and the lack of tumor specificity. Fortunately, a replication-competent, E1B-deficient adenovirus (dl1520) was developed that could overcome these limitations, because it was capable of efficiently and selectively destroying tumor cells lacking functional p53. In an attempt to appraise the efficiency and safety of this approach, a novel recombinant adenovirus, r3/Ad, containing a gfp-zeocin expression cassette was constructed in this work. The study in vitro demonstrated that r3/Ad has the ability to replicate in and lyse only the p53-deficient human tumor cells such as the human glioblastoma cells (U251) and human bladder cells (EJ) but not in the human fibroblast cells (MRC-5) with functional p53. Importantly, this gfp-zeocin fusion gene driven by the bipromoter (CMV and EM-7) could be used as an effective selective marker and reporter in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; and also zeocin as a selective marker could minimize contamination of the recombinant virus by the wt-Ad5. Additionally, it was found that the r3/Ad could be useful for studying the selective replication of E1B-deficient adenovirus in vivo, it could be used as a "guide" to study the ability of the recombinant adenovirus to spread and to infect distant tumor cells in any tumor bearing animal model by GFP as a reporter. This may help determine the safety of using any E1B-deficient adenovirus in cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baoli Hu
- Institute of Virology, College of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430072, PR China
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14
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Wagner E, Kircheis R, Walker GF. Targeted nucleic acid delivery into tumors: new avenues for cancer therapy. Biomed Pharmacother 2004; 58:152-61. [PMID: 15082337 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2004.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2003] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Unique properties of tumors, such as abnormalities in the cell cycle and apoptosis, migration and metastasis, neoangiogenesis or unique antigen profiles are targets for therapeutic anti-cancer strategies. Beyond the selection of such strategies, additional specificity for the targeted tumor tissue can be accomplished in cancer gene therapy in several ways. Upon systemic administration, appropriately packaged therapeutic nucleic acid may be preferentially transported into the tumor tissue (targeted delivery); formulation can mediate the intracellular uptake of the nucleic acid into the nucleus of target cells only (transductional targeting); and/or the use of specific promotor/enhancer elements can restrict transcription of therapeutic genes to the target cells only (transcriptional targeting). Options for physical and biological targeting of nucleic acid formulations into tumors and therapeutic approaches are reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biology-Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
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15
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Abstract
Viral oncolysis, or virotherapy, is an endeavor to use viruses as therapeutic agents in an effort to exploit their highly evolved qualities of host cell killing and simultaneous multiplication and spread. This review describes the concept of oncolytic adenoviruses, also called conditionally replicative adenoviruses (CRAds), and recent developments--inspired by early clinical results--that aim at the optimization of CRAd efficacy. Molecular strategies applied for the development of oncolytic adenoviruses include (i) the genetic manipulation of the expression and/or function of key regulatory viral proteins in order to restrict viral replication and spread to tumor cells, (ii) the engineering of the adenoviral capsid for efficient and tumor-targeted infection, and (iii) the incorporation of heterologous genes to facilitate combination therapies or tracking of the virus. Initial clinical trials have provided proof-of-concept for adenoviral oncolysis in patients and a favorable safety profile for oncolytic adenoviruses has been demonstrated. In conclusion, adenoviral oncolysis, with its distinct therapeutic mechanism, shows remarkable therapeutic potential. Advanced generations of virotherapeutics are currently in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk M Nettelbeck
- Department of Dermatology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany.
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16
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Abstract
Gene therapy is envisioned as a potentially definitive treatment for a variety of diseases that have a genetic etiology. We reviewed trials of clinical gene therapy for nonmalignant, single-gene, and multifactorial disorders and infectious diseases, and found limited evidence suggesting that gene therapy may benefit patients who have severe, combined, immunodeficiency disorder; cystic fibrosis; coronary artery disease or peripheral arterial disease; or hemophilia. Effective gene therapy requires the targeted transfer of exogenous genetic material into human cells and the subsequent regulated expression of the corresponding gene product. Because no phase 3 randomized controlled trials have been completed that fulfill these criteria, it is difficult to correlate signs of clinical benefit with the administration of gene therapy in any disease. Additional clinical and basic research is needed to determine the future role of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Ratko
- Clinical Knowledge Services, University HealthSystem Consortium, Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-1890, USA.
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17
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Gómez-Treviño A, Castel S, López-Iglesias C, Cortadellas N, Comas-Riu J, Mercadé E. Effects of adenovirus-mediated SV5 fusogenic glycoprotein expression on tumor cells. J Gene Med 2003; 5:483-92. [PMID: 12797113 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The fusogenic (F) membrane glycoprotein of the paramyxovirus SV5 allows virus to enter host cells and mediates fusion between neighboring cells, which leads to cell death. F glycoprotein is synthesized as an inactive precursor (F(0)) that is cleaved by cellular protease furine to form the active heterodimer F(1) + F(2). The active protein can induce syncytium formation in the absence of another integral glycoprotein (HN), a property that appears to be unique among paramyxoviruses. METHODOLOGY We constructed a non-replicative adenovirus to express SV5 F protein in tumor cells, and its fusion capacity was analyzed by fluorescent and confocal microscopy. Cell viability and bystander effect were compared with the thymidine kinase/ganciclovir suicide gene therapy. The structure of F-expressing cells was studied using electron microscopy. RESULTS F glycoprotein expression induced syncytium formation to a maximum at 72 h, after which syncytia progressively lost viability and detached. The cell membrane was disrupted while nuclear structure was preserved. Over-expression of SV5 F protein in tumor cells led to high cytotoxicity comparable with that associated with the thymidine kinase/ganciclovir. A potent bystander killing effect was detected until the ratio of F-transduced to non-transduced cells was 1 : 100. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that the fusogenic glycoprotein of the paramyxovirus SV5 could be used to eliminate tumor cells and may encourage studies aimed at modifying its selectivity and combining its expression with other cytotoxic strategies to improve their efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Gómez-Treviño
- Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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18
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Takayama K, Reynolds PN, Short JJ, Kawakami Y, Adachi Y, Glasgow JN, Rots MG, Krasnykh V, Douglas JT, Curiel DT. A mosaic adenovirus possessing serotype Ad5 and serotype Ad3 knobs exhibits expanded tropism. Virology 2003; 309:282-93. [PMID: 12758175 DOI: 10.1016/s0042-6822(03)00067-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The efficiency of cancer gene therapy with recombinant adenoviruses based on serotype 5 (Ad5) has been limited partly because of variable, and often low, expression by human primary cancer cells of the primary cellular-receptor which recognizes the knob domain of the fiber protein, the coxsackie and adenovirus receptor (CAR). As a means of circumventing CAR deficiency, Ad vectors have been retargeted by utilizing chimeric fibers possessing knob domains of alternate Ad serotypes. We have reported that ovarian cancer cells possess a primary receptor for Ad3 to which the Ad3 knob binds independently of the CAR-Ad5 knob interaction. Furthermore, an Ad5-based chimeric vector, designated Ad5/3, containing a chimeric fiber proteins possessing the Ad3 knob, demonstrates CAR-independent tropism by virtue of targeting the Ad3 receptor. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that a mosaic virus possessing both the Ad5 knob and the Ad3 knob on the same virion could utilize either primary receptor, resulting in expanded tropism. In this study, we generated a dual-knob mosaic virus by coinfection of 293 cells with Ad5-based and Ad5/3-based vectors. Characterization of the resultant virions confirmed the incorporation of both Ad5 and Ad3 knobs in the same particle. Furthermore, this mosaic virus was able to utilize either receptor, CAR and the Ad3 receptor, for virus attachment to cells. Enhanced Ad infectivity with the mosaic virus was shown in a panel of cell lines, with receptor profiles ranging from CAR-dominant to Ad3 receptor-dominant. Thus, this mosaic virus strategy may offer the potential to improve Ad-based gene therapy approaches by infectivity enhancement and tropism expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Takayama
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294-2172, USA
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19
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Ferreira SC, Martins ML, Vilela MJ. Morphology transitions induced by chemotherapy in carcinomas in situ. PHYSICAL REVIEW E 2003; 67:051914. [PMID: 12786185 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.67.051914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2002] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we have proposed a nutrient-limited model for the avascular growth of tumors including cell proliferation, motility, and death [S. C. Ferreira, Jr., M. L. Martins, and M. J. Vilela, Phys. Rev. E 65, 021907 (2002)], which qualitatively reproduces commonly observed morphologies for carcinomas in situ. In the present work, we analyze the effects of distinct chemotherapeutic strategies on the patterns, scaling, and growth laws obtained for the nutrient-limited model. Two kinds of chemotherapeutic strategies were considered, namely, those that kill cancer cells and those that block cell mitosis but allow the cell to survive for some time. Depending on the chemotherapeutic schedule used, the tumors are completely eliminated, reach a stationary size, or grow following power laws. The model suggests that the scaling properties of the tumors are not affected by the mild cytotoxic treatments, although a reduction in growth rates and an increase in invasiveness are observed. For the strategies based on antimitotic drugs, a morphological transition in which compact tumors become more fractal under aggressive treatments was seen.
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Affiliation(s)
- S C Ferreira
- Departamento de Física, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Caixa Postal 702, 30161-970 Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
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20
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Ishikawa H, Nakao K, Matsumoto K, Ichikawa T, Hamasaki K, Nakata K, Eguchi K. Antiangiogenic gene therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma using angiostatin gene. Hepatology 2003; 37:696-704. [PMID: 12601367 DOI: 10.1053/jhep.2003.50077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have reported that antiangiogenic gene delivery into cancer cells inhibits growth of certain tumors in vivo. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular cancer, and antiangiogenic gene therapy might be suitable for HCC. In the present study, we investigated the antiangiogenic effects of angiostatin gene transduction into HCC both in vitro and in vivo. Angiostatin gene was cloned into a pSecTag2B mammalian expression vector to construct pSecTag2B-ANG. pSecTag2B or pSecTag2B-ANG were transfected into an HCC cell line, PLC/PRF/5, and then stable transfectants were obtained by Zeocin selection. pSecTag2B or pSecTag2B-ANG transfection did not alter the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a potent angiogenic stimulator, or pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), an angiogenic inhibitor, in PLC/PRF/5 cells. However, conditioned media (CM) derived from pSecTag2B-ANG-transfected PLC/PRF/5 cells (CM-ANG) suppressed the proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by 35% and 50%, respectively, relative to their effects on nontransfected cells. In in vivo experiments, pSecTag2B-ANG stable transfected (CM-Mock) and nontransfected cells (CM-N) were mixed at various proportions and the mixed cells were subcutaneously implanted into athymic mice. Suppression of tumor growth was noted in mice implanted with angiostatin gene-transfected cells, and such suppression was proportional with the percentage of transfected cells. Analysis of the vascular density in these tumors showed that the tumor growth suppression effect of angiostatin gene correlated with suppression of tumor vascularity. In conclusion, antiangiogenic gene therapy using angiostatin gene is potentially suitable for the treatment of patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Ishikawa
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Nagasaki University School of Medicine, and Health Research Center, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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21
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DOUGLAS JOANNET. Targeted adenoviral vectors. Mol Phys 2002. [DOI: 10.1080/00268970210130263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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22
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Kim M, Zinn KR, Barnett BG, Sumerel LA, Krasnykh V, Curiel DT, Douglas JT. The therapeutic efficacy of adenoviral vectors for cancer gene therapy is limited by a low level of primary adenovirus receptors on tumour cells. Eur J Cancer 2002; 38:1917-26. [PMID: 12204675 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(02)00131-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Replication-defective adenoviral vectors are currently being employed as gene delivery vehicles for cancer gene therapy. To address the hypothesis that the therapeutic efficacy of adenoviral vectors is restricted by their inability to infect tumour cells expressing low levels of the primary cellular receptor for adenoviruses, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), we have employed a pair of ovarian cancer cell lines differing only in the expression of a primary receptor for Ad5. This novel system thus allowed the direct evaluation of the relationship between the efficacy of an adenoviral vector and the primary receptor levels of the host cancer cell, without the confounding influence of other variable cellular factors. We demonstrate that a deficiency of the primary cellular receptor on the tumour cells restricts the efficacy of adenoviral vectors in two distinct cancer gene therapy approaches, TP53 gene replacement therapy and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir suicide gene therapy. Moreover, we show that a deficiency of the primary receptor on the tumour cells limits the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer in vivo. Since a number of studies have reported that primary cancer cells express only low levels of CAR, our results suggest that strategies to redirect adenoviruses to achieve CAR-independent infection will be necessary to realize the full potential of adenoviral vectors in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kim
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Department of Medicine, Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA
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23
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DeFatta RJ, Li Y, De Benedetti A. Selective killing of cancer cells based on translational control of a suicide gene. Cancer Gene Ther 2002; 9:573-8. [PMID: 12082457 DOI: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7700468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2002] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The translation initiation factor, eIF4E, is commonly overexpressed in solid tumors. This elevation allows for efficient translation of mRNA that are normally repressed by their 5' untranslated region, many of which encode growth-promoting proteins. This property was exploited to modulate the synthesis of HTK at the translational level to selectively kill cancer cells. Various breast cancer cell lines can efficiently synthesize HTK from the translationally regulated mRNA, whereas normal cells cannot. Accordingly, only cancer cells were killed at low concentrations of ganciclovir. By altering the expression of eIF4E, it was possible to modulate the sensitivity of various cell lines to ganciclovir.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J DeFatta
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, Louisiana 71130-3932, USA
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24
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Ray P, Bauer E, Iyer M, Barrio JR, Satyamurthy N, Phelps ME, Herschman HR, Gambhir SS. Monitoring gene therapy with reporter gene imaging. Semin Nucl Med 2001; 31:312-20. [PMID: 11710773 DOI: 10.1053/snuc.2001.26209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Rapid advances in imaging technologies and gene transfer strategies offer a great opportunity to optimize clinical trials of human gene therapy. Reporter genes are emerging as very powerful tools to monitor the delivery, magnitude, and time variation of therapeutic gene transfer in vivo. Several reporter genes, such as the herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase, the dopamine type 2 receptor, and the somatostatin receptor type 2, are currently being successfully used with gamma camera, single photon emission computed tomography, and positron emission tomography imaging. These reporter genes can be coupled with a therapeutic gene of interest to indirectly monitor the expression of the therapeutic gene. Finally, applications of the reporter gene technology to other areas, such as cell trafficking studies and transgenic animal models, are now possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ray
- Crump Institute for Molecular Imaging, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1770, USA
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25
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Abstract
The delineation of the molecular basis of neoplasia provides the possibility of specific intervention by gene therapy through the introduction of genetic material for therapeutic purposes. In this regard, several gene therapy approaches have been developed for the treatment of cancer: mutation compensation, genetic immunopotentiation, molecular chemotherapy, inhibition of angiogenesis, replicative vector oncolysis, and chemosensitization or radiosensitization. Clinical trials have been initiated to evaluate safety, toxicity, and efficacy of each of these approaches, based on promising preclinical results. Various limitations that have been identified include lack of in vivo selective tumor delivery of vectors, minimal expression of therapeutic genes, immune response against vectors, and normal tissue toxicity. Combined modality therapy with gene therapy and chemotherapy or radiation therapy has shown promising results. It is expected that as new therapeutic targets and approaches are identified, combined with advances in vector design, that gene therapy will play an increasing role in clinical cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Buchsbaum
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1530 3rd Avenue South, WTI 674, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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26
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Abstract
The application of gene transfer techniques to immunotherapy has animated the field of gene-based cancer vaccine research. Gene transfer strategies were developed to bring about active immunization against tumor-associated antigens (TAA) through gene transfer technology. A wide variety of viral and nonviral gene transfer methods have been investigated for immunotherapeutic purposes. Ex vivo strategies include gene delivery into tumor cells and into cellular components of the immune system, including cytotoxic T cells and dendritic cells (DC). The nature of the transferred genetic material as well as the gene transfer method has varied widely depending on the application. Several of these approaches have already been translated into clinical gene therapy trials. In this review, we will focus on the rationale and types of ex vivo gene-based immunotherapy of cancer. Critical areas for future development of gene-based cancer vaccines are addressed, with particular emphasis on use of DC and on the danger-tolerance hypothesis. Finally, the use of gene-modified DC for tumor vaccination and its prospects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- V F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, University Hospital, University of Antwerp, Belgium
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27
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Abstract
This review focuses on the use of synthetic (non-viral) delivery systems for cancer gene therapy. Therapeutic strategies such as gene replacement/mutation correction, immune modulation and molecular therapy/'suicide' gene therapy type approaches potentially offer unique and novel ways of fighting cancer, some of which have already shown promise in early clinical trials. However, the specific and efficient delivery of the genetic material to remote tumors/metastases remains a challenge, which is being addressed using a variety of viral and non-viral systems. Each of these disparate systems has distinct advantages and disadvantages, which need to be taken into account when a specific therapeutic gene is being used. The review concentrates on particulate gene delivery systems, which are formed through non-covalent complexation of cationic carrier molecules (e.g. lipids or polymers) and the negatively charged plasmid DNA. Such systems tend to be comparatively less efficient than viral systems, but have the inherent advantage of flexibility and safety. The DNA-carrier complex acts as a protective package, and needs to be inert and stable while in circulation. Once the remote site has been reached the complex needs to efficiently transfect the targeted (tumor) cells. In order to improve overall transfection specificity and efficiency it is necessary to optimize intracellular trafficking of the DNA complex as well as the performance after systemic administration. Common principles and specific advantages or disadvantages of the individual synthetic gene delivery systems are discussed, and their interaction with tumor-specific and generic biological barriers are examined in order to identify potential strategies to overcome them.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G Schatzlein
- CRC Department of Medical Oncology, Beatson Laboratories, University of Glasgow, Switchback Road, Glasgow G61 1BD, UK.
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28
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Theys J, Landuyt W, Nuyts S, Van Mellaert L, Bosmans E, Rijnders A, Van Den Bogaert W, van Oosterom A, Anné J, Lambin P. Improvement of Clostridium tumour targeting vectors evaluated in rat rhabdomyosarcomas. FEMS IMMUNOLOGY AND MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2001; 30:37-41. [PMID: 11172989 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2001.tb01547.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of using apathogenic clostridia as a promising strategy for hypoxia-specific tumour targeting. The present study shows that the use of the vascular targeting compound combretastatin A-4 phosphate could significantly (P<0.001) increase the number of Clostridium vegetative cells in rat rhabdomyosarcomas with sizes between 0.2 cm(2) and 3 cm(2). Furthermore, this study showed that administration of metronidazole for a 9-day period was sufficient to eliminate systemically administered Clostridium from the tumour. Moreover, previous Clostridium spore administration did not effect tumour colonisation, regardless of the immune response status of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Theys
- Laboratory of Bacteriology, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Leuven, Belgium
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29
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Abstract
During the past century, many attempts have been made to exploit the ability of some viruses to infect and destroy cancer cells. Crippled, non-replicative viruses have been used as vectors to transfer genes into tumours. Both strategies have serious limitations. The time is now ripe, however, for full convergence of these two research tracks. On the one hand, the intratumoral propagation of replicative viruses would overcome the low levels of gene transfer achieved by current viral vectors. On the other hand, the versatility provided by vectors encoding foreign genes, which are limited in their uses only by our ingenuity, would overcome the physiological barriers to robust propagation of the viral progeny in the tumour. This empowering synthesis will provide truly new opportunities that might realise the promises of gene transfer for the therapy of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gómez-Navarro
- Department of Medicine, Pathology and Surgery, and the Gene Therapy Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294, USA
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30
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Greco O, Patterson AV, Dachs GU. Can gene therapy overcome the problem of hypoxia in radiotherapy? JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2000; 41:201-212. [PMID: 11210824 DOI: 10.1269/jrr.41.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- O Greco
- Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust, Mount Vernon Hospital, PO BOX 100, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2JR, UK
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31
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Li E, Brown SL, Von Seggern DJ, Brown GB, Nemerow GR. Signaling antibodies complexed with adenovirus circumvent CAR and integrin interactions and improve gene delivery. Gene Ther 2000; 7:1593-9. [PMID: 11021598 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Current adenoviral (Ad) vectors cannot be targeted to specific cell types due to the widespread distribution of the Ad receptor (CAR). Moreover, CAR and/or internalization receptors (alphav integrins) are absent or present at low levels on some cell types, rendering them resistant to Ad-mediated gene delivery. To address these problems, we have developed a novel vector targeting approach that takes advantage of the common cell signaling pathways initiated by ligation of alphav integrins and growth factor receptors. Recombinant growth factor/cytokines (TNF-alpha, IGF-1, EGF) which trigger phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase (PI3K) activation, a signaling molecule involved in adenovirus internalization, were fused to a monoclonal antibody specific for the viral penton base. Ad vectors complexed with these bifunctional mAbs increased gene delivery 10 to 50-fold to human melanoma cells lacking alphav integrins. The bifunctional mAbs also enhanced gene delivery by fiberless adenovirus particles which cannot bind to CAR. Improved gene delivery correlated with increased virus internalization and attachment as well as PI3K activity. The use of bifunctional mAbs to trigger specific cell signaling pathways offers a widely applicable method for bypassing the normal Ad receptors in gene delivery and potentially increasing the selectivity of gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Li
- Department of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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32
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Van Tendeloo VF, Willems R, Ponsaerts P, Lenjou M, Nijs G, Vanhove M, Muylaert P, Van Cauwelaert P, Van Broeckhoven C, Van Bockstaele DR, Berneman ZN. High-level transgene expression in primary human T lymphocytes and adult bone marrow CD34+ cells via electroporation-mediated gene delivery. Gene Ther 2000; 7:1431-7. [PMID: 10981672 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The design of effective gene delivery systems for gene transfer in primary human blood cells is important both for fundamental hematopoiesis research and for cancer gene therapy strategies. Here, we evaluated electroporation as a nonviral means for transfection of activated human T lymphocytes and adult bone marrow (BM) CD34+ cells. We describe optimal culture and electroporation parameters for efficient gene delivery in prestimulated T lymphocytes (16.3 +/-1.3%), as well as 2-day cultured adult BM CD34+ cells (29.6+/-4.6%). PHA-stimulated T cells were most receptive for transfection after 48h of in vitro culture, while T cells stimulated by CD3 cross-linking and interleukin (IL)-2 achieved maximum transfection levels after 72 h of prestimulation. Kinetic analysis of EGFP expression revealed that activated T lymphocytes maintained transgene expression at high levels for a prolonged period. In addition, fresh unstimulated BM CD34+ cells were consistently transfected (5.2+/-0.4%) with minimal cytotoxicity (<5%), even without preliminary CD34+ cell purification. Both T cells and CD34+ cells retained their phenotype and functional capacity after electroporation. These results demonstrate that electroporation is a suitable nonviral transfection technique that may serve applications in gene therapy protocols using T lymphocytes or CD34+ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- V F Van Tendeloo
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Antwerp University Hospital (UIA/UZA), University of Antwerp, Belgium
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33
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Xiang J, Gómez-Navarro J, Arafat W, Liu B, Barker SD, Alvarez RD, Siegal GP, Curiel DT. Pro-apoptotic treatment with an adenovirus encoding Bax enhances the effect of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer. J Gene Med 2000; 2:97-106. [PMID: 10809143 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1521-2254(200003/04)2:2<97::aid-jgm99>3.0.co;2-s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor cell heterogeneity and resistance to chemotherapy-mediated cell death are major obstacles in cancer therapy. It has been reported that expression of the pro-apoptotic molecule Bax can induce cell death or sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy in stable cell clones derived from tumor cells. However, these studies are limited in that they cannot represent the heterogeneity of cancer cells observed in vivo. In this study, we have further explored the therapeutic potential of Bax. METHODS Using an inducible recombinant Bax adenovirus, we screened a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines and primary patient-derived ovarian tumor cells for their sensitivity to Bax-mediated cytotoxicity. Apoptotic cell death was evaluated qualitatively with Hoechst staining and quantitatively with MTS and Annexin V-based assays. Endogenous levels of both Bcl-2 and Bax protein and p53 status were evaluated. The potential of bax to sensitize ovarian cancer lines to chemotherapy was also tested. Dose-response curves were generated to evaluate cell death. RESULTS Overexpression of Bax directly induced apoptosis in both ovarian cancer cell lines and the patient-derived primary cancer cells. However, the sensitivity of these cells to Bax varied and appeared to be independent of both the status of p53 and the endogenous levels of bcl-2 or Bax, critical molecules in the apoptotic pathway. Importantly, overexpression of Bax significantly enhanced chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in both established cell lines and primary ovarian carcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS These studies suggest that overexpression of Bax alone or in combination with chemotherapy may provide a means to overcome the problems imposed by the heterogeneous nature of tumors, ultimately augmenting the efficacy of chemotherapy in patients suffering from ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Xiang
- Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35233, USA
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