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Xiong D, Wang Q, Wang WM, Sun ZJ. Tuning cellular metabolism for cancer virotherapy. Cancer Lett 2024; 592:216924. [PMID: 38718886 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2024.216924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent an emerging immunotherapeutic strategy owing to their capacity for direct tumor lysis and induction of antitumor immunity. However, hurdles like transient persistence and moderate efficacy necessitate innovative approaches. Metabolic remodeling has recently gained prominence as a strategic intervention, wherein OVs or combination regimens could reprogram tumor and immune cell metabolism to enhance viral replication and oncolysis. In this review, we summarize recent advances in strategic reprogramming of tumor and immune cell metabolism to enhance OV-based immunotherapies. Specific tactics include engineering viruses to target glycolytic, glutaminolytic, and nucleotide synthesis pathways in cancer cells, boosting viral replication and tumor cell death. Additionally, rewiring T cell and NK cell metabolism of lipids, amino acids, and carbohydrates shows promise to enhance antitumor effects. Further insights are discussed to pave the way for the clinical implementation of metabolically enhanced oncolytic platforms, including balancing metabolic modulation to limit antiviral responses while promoting viral persistence and tumor clearance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Wei-Ming Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Center of Stomatology, Institute of Oral Precancerous Lesions, Xiangya Hospital, Research Center of Oral and Maxillofacial Tumor, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, PR China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Oral & Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Stomatology, School & Hospital of Stomatology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, Taikang Center for Life and Medical Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China.
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2
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Gaber AA, Abo Elmaaty A, Sharaky M, Mosa AA, Yahya Abdullah Alzahrani A, Shaaban S, Eldehna WM, Al-Karmalawy AA. Multi-target rational design and synthesis of novel diphenyl-tethered pyrazolopyrimidines targeting EGFR and topoisomerase II with potential DNA intercalation and apoptosis induction. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107223. [PMID: 38387399 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Herein, we envisioned the design and synthesis of novel pyrazolopyrimidines (confirmed by elemental analysis, 1H and 13C NMR, and mass spectra) as multitarget-directed drug candidates acting as EGFR/TOPO II inhibitors, DNA intercalators, and apoptosis inducers. The target diphenyl-tethered pyrazolopyrimidines were synthesized starting from the reaction of phenyl hydrazine and ethoxymethylenemalononitrile to give aminopyrazole-carbonitrile 2. The latter hydrolysis with NaOH and subsequent reaction with 4-chlorobenzaldhyde afforded the corresponding pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidin-4-ol 4. Chlorination of 4 with POCl3 and sequential reaction with different amines afforded the target compounds in good yields (up to 73 %). The growth inhibition % of the new derivatives (6a-m) was investigated against different cancer and normal cells and the IC50 values of the most promising candidates were estimated for HNO97, MDA-MB-468, FaDu, and HeLa cancer cells. The frontier derivatives (6a, 6i, 6k, 6l, and 6m) were pursued for their EGFR inhibitory activity. Compound 6l decreased EGFR protein concentration by a 6.10-fold change, compared to imatinib as a reference standard. On the other side, compounds (6a, 6i, 6k, 6l, and 6m) underwent topoisomerase II (TOPO II) inhibitory assay. In particular, compounds 6a and 6l exhibited IC50s of 17.89 and 19.39 μM, respectively, surpassing etoposide with IC50 of 20.82 μM. Besides, the DNA fragmentation images described the great potential of both candidates 6a and 6l in inducing DNA degradation at lower concentrations compared to etoposide and doxorubicin. Moreover, compound 6l, with the most promising EGFR/TOPO II inhibition and DNA intercalation, was selected for further investigation for its apoptosis induction ability by measuring caspases 3, 7, 8, and 9, Bax, p53, MMP2, MMP9, and BCL-2 proteins. Additionally, molecular docking was used to explain the SAR results based on the differences in the molecular features of the investigated congeners and the target receptors' topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Gaber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Ayman Abo Elmaaty
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Marwa Sharaky
- Cancer Biology Department, Pharmacology Unit, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza 12566, Egypt
| | - Aliaa A Mosa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | | | - Saad Shaaban
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 35516 Mansoura, Egypt
| | - Wagdy M Eldehna
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta 34518, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza 12566, Egypt.
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3
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Al-Karmalawy AA, Rashed M, Sharaky M, Abulkhair HS, Hammouda MM, Tawfik HO, Shaldam MA. Novel fused imidazotriazines acting as promising top. II inhibitors and apoptotic inducers with greater selectivity against head and neck tumors: Design, synthesis, and biological assessments. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 259:115661. [PMID: 37482023 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
Although the great effectiveness of doxorubicin (Dox) in the treatment of many types of tumors, it showed limited effectiveness against the head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) subtype which is attributed to its reported multiple drug resistance (MDR). In the current study, we considered the essential pharmacophoric features of Dox as an effective Top. II inhibitor and sought to develop a novel set of imidazo[1,2-a] [1,3,5]triazin-2-amines (2a-2p) as a suggested anticancer option that could intercalate the DNA base pairs. We evaluated the % inhibition of the newly synthesized compounds on thirteen cancer cell lines and the analysis of structure-activity relationships revealed that the human head and neck cancer cell line (HNO97) was the most sensitive to their growth inhibition effect. Then, the IC50 values were recorded against the most sensitive cancer cell lines (HNO97, MDA-MB-231, and HEPG2), and compared to the normal cell line OEC (human oral epithelial cells). Compounds 2f and 2g showed very strong activities against HNO97 with IC50 values of (4 ± 1 and 3 ± 1.5 μg/mL), respectively, compared to that of Dox (9 ± 1.6 μg/mL). Next, a quantitative determination of human DNA Top. II concentrations in the most sensitive cell line (HNO97) were recorded for the most active anticancer derivatives. Again, compound 2f showed a superior Top. II inhibition with 87.86% compared to that of Dox (86.44%), while compound 2g achieved an inhibition of 81.37% which was close to the effect of Dox. To further investigate their effects on cell cycle progression and apoptosis induction in HNO97 cells, both 2f and 2g were selected for analysis. Both candidates arrested cell cycle progression at both the S and G2-M phases, as well as increased the early and late apoptosis phase ratios. Besides, both 2f and 2g were subjected to protein expression analysis of apoptosis-related genes (p53, BAX, IL-6, and BCL2). Moreover, the antioxidant effect of 2f and 2g was evaluated by measuring GSH, MDA, and NO markers in HNO97 cells. Furthermore, molecular docking for the newly designed tricyclic derivatives against both the Top. II and DNA double helix was carried out.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza, 12566, Egypt.
| | - Mahmoud Rashed
- Pharmaceutical Medicinal Chemistry & Drug Design Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Marwa Sharaky
- Cancer Biology Department, Pharmacology Unit, National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hamada S Abulkhair
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, 11884, Cairo, Egypt; Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University - Egypt, International Coastal Road, New Damietta, 34518, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Hammouda
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science and Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia; Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
| | - Haytham O Tawfik
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
| | - Moataz A Shaldam
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, 33516, Egypt
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4
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Gaber AA, Sharaky M, Elmaaty AA, Hammouda MM, Mourad AA, Elkhawaga SY, Mokhtar MM, Abouzied AS, Mourad MA, Al-Karmalawy AA. Design and synthesis of novel pyrazolopyrimidine candidates as promising EGFR-T790M inhibitors and apoptosis inducers. Future Med Chem 2023; 15:1773-1790. [PMID: 37882053 DOI: 10.4155/fmc-2023-0156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: Our objective was to design and synthesize a new range of pyrazolopyrimidines while maintaining the key pharmacophoric features of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Materials & methods: Percentage inhibition in 14 human cancer cell lines and IC50 values were recorded. Compounds 6c, 7e and 7f were examined against both wild and mutant (T790M) EGFR subtypes. Apoptosis markers, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis assay and molecular docking were performed. Results: Compounds 6c, 7e and 7f demonstrated superior inhibitory potentials against wild and mutant (T790M) EGFR subtypes. A molecular docking study showed that compounds 6c and 7e had the best fit. Conclusion: The designed candidates demonstrated superior inhibitory potential as promising EGFR-T790M inhibitors that agrees with the proposed rationale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Gaber
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11884, Egypt
| | - Marwa Sharaky
- Pharmacology Unit, Cancer Biology Department, National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ayman Abo Elmaaty
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Hammouda
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science & Humanities in Al-Kharj, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, 11942, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Ae Mourad
- Pharmacology & Toxicology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Samy Y Elkhawaga
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11231, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Mohamed Mokhtar
- Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy (Boys), Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, 11231, Egypt
| | - Amr S Abouzied
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Hail, Hail, 81442, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, National Organization for Drug Control & Research, Giza, 12553, Egypt
| | - Mai Ae Mourad
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Port Said University, Port Said, 42511, Egypt
| | - Ahmed A Al-Karmalawy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Horus University-Egypt, New Damietta 34518, Egypt
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, 6th of October City, Giza, 12566, Egypt
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5
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Anker SC, Szczeponik MG, Dessila J, Dittus K, Engeland CE, Jäger D, Ungerechts G, Leber MF. Oncolytic Measles Virus Encoding MicroRNA for Targeted RNA Interference. Viruses 2023; 15:v15020308. [PMID: 36851522 PMCID: PMC9964028 DOI: 10.3390/v15020308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy is a promising, novel form of cancer immunotherapy currently being investigated in pre-clinical and clinical settings. While generally well-tolerated, the anti-tumor potency of oncolytic virus-based monotherapies needs to be improved further. One of the major factors limiting the replication efficiency of oncolytic viruses are the antiviral defense pathways activated by tumor cells. In this study, we have designed and validated a universal expression cassette for artificial microRNAs that can now be adapted to suppress genes of interest, including potential resistance factors. Transcripts are encoded as a primary microRNA for processing via the predominantly nuclear RNase III Drosha. We have engineered an oncolytic measles virus encoding this universal expression cassette for artificial microRNAs. Virally encoded microRNA was expressed in the range of endogenous microRNA transcripts and successfully mediated target protein suppression. However, absolute expression levels of mature microRNAs were limited when delivered by an oncolytic measles virus. We demonstrate that measles virus, in contrast to other cytosolic viruses, does not induce translocation of Drosha from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, potentially resulting in a limited processing efficiency of virus-derived, cytosolically delivered artificial microRNAs. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating functional expression of microRNA from oncolytic measles viruses potentially enabling future targeted knockdown, for instance of antiviral factors specifically in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie C. Anker
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine I and Clinical Chemistry, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 671, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie G. Szczeponik
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Medical School, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 672, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jan Dessila
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katia Dittus
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christine E. Engeland
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Biomedical Research and Education (ZBAF), Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health, School of Medicine, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Straße 10, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Guy Ungerechts
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Mathias F. Leber
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence:
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Dependency of EGFR activation in vanadium-based sensitization to oncolytic virotherapy. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 25:146-159. [PMID: 35572196 PMCID: PMC9065483 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy is a clinically validated approach to treat cancers such as melanoma; however, tumor resistance to virus makes its efficacy variable. Compounds such as sodium orthovanadate (vanadate) can overcome viral resistance and synergize with RNA-based oncolytic viruses. In this study, we explored the basis of vanadate mode of action and identified key cellular components in vanadate’s oncolytic virus-enhancing mechanism using a high-throughput kinase inhibitor screen. We found that several kinase inhibitors affecting signaling downstream of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway abrogated the oncolytic virus-enhancing effects of vanadate. EGFR pathway inhibitors such as gefitinib negated vanadate-associated changes in the phosphorylation and localization of STAT1/2 as well as NF-κB signaling. Moreover, gefitinib treatment could abrogate the viral sensitizing response of vanadium compounds in vivo. Together, we demonstrate that EGFR signaling plays an integral role in vanadium viral sensitization and that pharmacological EGFR blockade can counteract vanadium/oncolytic virus combination therapy.
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Kemler I, Karamched B, Neuhauser C, Dingli D. Quantitative imaging and dynamics of tumor therapy with viruses. FEBS J 2021; 288:6273-6285. [PMID: 34213827 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cancer therapy remains challenging due to the myriad presentations of the disease and the vast genetic diversity of tumors that continuously evolve and often become resistant to therapy. Viruses can be engineered to specifically infect, replicate, and kill tumor cells (tumor virotherapy). Moreover, the viruses can be "armed" with therapeutic genes to enhance their oncolytic effect. Using viruses to treat cancer is exciting and novel and in principle can be used for a broad variety of tumors. However, the approach is distinctly different from other cancer therapies since success depends on establishment of an infection within the tumor and ongoing propagation of the oncolytic virus within the tumor itself. Therefore, the target itself amplifies the therapy. This introduces complex dynamics especially when the immune system is taken into consideration as well as the physical and other biological barriers to virus growth. Understanding these dynamics not only requires mathematical and computational models but also approaches for the noninvasive monitoring of the virus and tumor populations. In this perspective, we discuss strategies and current results to achieve this important goal of understanding these dynamics in pursuit of optimization of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iris Kemler
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Bhargav Karamched
- Department of Mathematics and Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - David Dingli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Division of Hematology and Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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8
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Singh HM, Leber MF, Bossow S, Engeland CE, Dessila J, Grossardt C, Zaoui K, Bell JC, Jäger D, von Kalle C, Ungerechts G. MicroRNA-sensitive oncolytic measles virus for chemovirotherapy of pancreatic cancer. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2021; 21:340-355. [PMID: 34141871 PMCID: PMC8182383 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Advanced pancreatic cancer is characterized by few treatment options and poor outcomes. Oncolytic virotherapy and chemotherapy involve complementary pharmacodynamics and could synergize to improve therapeutic efficacy. Likewise, multimodality treatment may cause additional toxicity, and new agents have to be safe. Balancing both aims, we generated an oncolytic measles virus for 5-fluorouracil-based chemovirotherapy of pancreatic cancer with enhanced tumor specificity through microRNA-regulated vector tropism. The resulting vector encodes a bacterial prodrug convertase, cytosine deaminase-uracil phosphoribosyl transferase, and carries synthetic miR-148a target sites in the viral F gene. Combination of the armed and targeted virus with 5-fluorocytosine, a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, resulted in cytotoxicity toward both infected and bystander pancreatic cancer cells. In pancreatic cancer xenografts, a single intratumoral injection of the virus induced robust in vivo expression of prodrug convertase. Based on intratumoral transgene expression kinetics, we devised a chemovirotherapy regimen to assess treatment efficacy. Concerted multimodality treatment with intratumoral virus and systemic prodrug administration delayed tumor growth and prolonged survival of xenograft-bearing mice. Our results demonstrate that 5-fluorouracil-based chemovirotherapy with microRNA-sensitive measles virus is an effective strategy against pancreatic cancer at a favorable therapeutic index that warrants future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Martin Singh
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mathias Felix Leber
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ONT, Canada
| | - Sascha Bossow
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christine E Engeland
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Research Group Mechanisms of Oncolytic Immunotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Faculty of Health/School of Medicine, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Witten/Herdecke University, Stockumer Straße 10, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Jan Dessila
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Grossardt
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Karim Zaoui
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 400, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - John C Bell
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ONT, Canada
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Berlin Institute of Health and Charité Universitätsmedizin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany.,Sidra Medical and Research Center, Al Luqta Street, Education City, North Campus, P.O. Box 26999, Doha, Qatar
| | - Guy Ungerechts
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ONT, Canada
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9
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Kurosaki H, Nakatake M, Sakamoto T, Kuwano N, Yamane M, Ishii K, Fujiwara Y, Nakamura T. Anti-Tumor Effects of MAPK-Dependent Tumor-Selective Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Armed with CD/UPRT against Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Mice. Cells 2021; 10:cells10050985. [PMID: 33922406 PMCID: PMC8145488 DOI: 10.3390/cells10050985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Engineered vaccinia virus serves as an oncolytic virus for cancer virotherapy. We evaluated the oncolytic characteristics of VGF- and O1-deleted recombinant mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent vaccinia virus (MDRVV). We found that compared with viruses with the deletion of either gene alone, MDRVV is more attenuated in normal cells and can replicate in cancer cells that exhibit constitutive ERK1/2 activation in the MAPK pathway. We armed MDRVV with a bifunctional fusion gene encoding cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (CD/UPRT), which converts 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into chemotherapeutic agents, and evaluated its oncolytic activity alone or in combination with 5-FC in human pancreatic cancer cell lines, tumor mouse models of peritoneal dissemination and liver metastasis, and ex vivo-infected live pancreatic cancer patient-derived tissues. CD/UPRT-armed MDRVV alone could efficiently eliminate pancreatic cancers, and its antitumor effects were partially enhanced in combination with 5-FC in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the replication of MDRVV was detected in tumor cells of patient-derived, surgically resected tissues, which showed enlarged nuclei and high expression of pERK1/2 and Ki-67, and not in stromal cells. Our findings suggest that systemic injections of CD/UPRT-armed MDRVV alone or in combination with 5-FC are promising therapeutic strategies for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Kurosaki
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
| | - Motomu Nakatake
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
| | - Teruhisa Sakamoto
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (T.S.); (Y.F.)
| | - Nozomi Kuwano
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
| | - Masato Yamane
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
| | - Kenta Ishii
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
| | - Yoshiyuki Fujiwara
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8504, Japan; (T.S.); (Y.F.)
| | - Takafumi Nakamura
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Genomic Medicine and Regenerative Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan; (H.K.); (M.N.); (N.K.); (M.Y.); (K.I.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-859-38-7550; Fax: +81-859-38-6422
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10
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Abe K, Kanehira M, Ohkouchi S, Kumata S, Suzuki Y, Oishi H, Noda M, Sakurada A, Miyauchi E, Fujiwara T, Harigae H, Okada Y. Targeting stanniocalcin-1-expressing tumor cells elicits efficient antitumor effects in a mouse model of human lung cancer. Cancer Med 2021; 10:3085-3100. [PMID: 33826244 PMCID: PMC8085941 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.3852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer‐related death in developed countries; therefore, the generation of effective targeted therapeutic regimens is essential. Recently, gene therapy approaches toward malignant cells have emerged as attractive molecular therapeutics. Previous studies have indicated that stanniocalcin‐1 (STC‐1), a hormone involved in calcium and phosphate homeostasis, positively regulates proliferation, apoptosis resistance, and glucose metabolism in lung cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated if targeting STC‐1 in tumor cells could be a promising strategy for lung cancer gene therapy. We confirmed that STC‐1 levels in peripheral blood were higher in lung cancer patients than in healthy donors and that STC‐1 expression was observed in five out of eight lung cancer cell lines. A vector expressing a suicide gene, uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT), under the control of the STC‐1 promoter, was constructed (pPSTC‐1‐UPRT) and transfected into three STC‐1‐positive cell lines, PC‐9, A549, and H1299. When stably transfected, we observed significant cell growth inhibition using 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) treatment. Furthermore, growth of the STC‐1‐negative lung cancer cell line, LK‐2 was significantly arrested when combined with STC‐1‐positive cells transfected with pPSTC‐1‐UPRT. We believe that conferring cytotoxicity in STC‐1‐positive lung cancer cells using a suicide gene may be a useful therapeutic strategy for lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kotaro Abe
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masahiko Kanehira
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.,Center for Life Science Research, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Shinya Ohkouchi
- Department of Occupational Health, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Sakiko Kumata
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yamato Suzuki
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hisashi Oishi
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masafumi Noda
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Akira Sakurada
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Eisaku Miyauchi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tohru Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology and Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hideo Harigae
- Department of Hematology and Rheumatology, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Okada
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Institute of Development, Aging and Cancer, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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11
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Synergism of rMV-Hu191 with cisplatin to treat gastric cancer by acid sphingomyelinase-mediated apoptosis requiring integrity of lipid raft microdomains. Gastric Cancer 2021; 24:1293-1306. [PMID: 34251544 PMCID: PMC8502160 DOI: 10.1007/s10120-021-01210-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND DDP-based chemotherapy is one of the first-line treatment in GC. However, the therapeutic efficacy of DDP is limited due to side effects. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop novel adjuvants to synergize with DDP. We had demonstrated previously that rMV-Hu191 had antitumor activity in GC. Here we examined the synergism of rMV-Hu191 with DDP in vitro and in vivo. METHODS Cellular proliferation, the synergistic effect and cell apoptosis were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, ZIP analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. The protein levels and location of ASMase were monitored by western blot and immunofluorescence assay. shRNA and imipramine were used to regulate the expression and activity of ASMase. MβCD was administrated to disrupt lipid rafts. Mice bearing GC xenografts were used to confirm the synergism in vivo. RESULTS From our data, combinational therapy demonstrated synergistic cytotoxicity both in resistant GC cell lines from a Chinese patient and drug-nonresistant GC cell lines, and increased cell apoptosis, instead of viral replication. Integrity of lipid rafts and ASMase were required for rMV-Hu191- and combination-induced apoptosis. The ASMase was delivered to the lipid raft microdomains at the initial stage of rMV-Hu191 treatment. In vivo GC mice xenografts confirmed the synergism of combinational treatment, together with increased apoptosis and trivial side-effects. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to demonstrate that rMV-Hu191 combined with DDP could be used as a potential therapeutic strategy in GC treatment and the ASMase and the integrity of lipid rafts are required for the synergistic effects.
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12
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Leber MF, Neault S, Jirovec E, Barkley R, Said A, Bell JC, Ungerechts G. Engineering and combining oncolytic measles virus for cancer therapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 56:39-48. [PMID: 32718830 PMCID: PMC7333629 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy using tumor-selective, oncolytic viruses is an emerging therapeutic option for solid and hematologic malignancies. A considerable variety of viruses ranging from small picornaviruses to large poxviruses are currently being investigated as potential candidates. In the early days of virotherapy, non-engineered wild-type or vaccine-strain viruses were employed. However, these viruses often did not fully satisfy the major criteria of safety and efficacy. Since the advent of reverse genetics systems for manipulating various classes of viruses, the field has shifted to developing genetically engineered viruses with an improved therapeutic index. In this review, we will summarize the concepts and strategies of multi-level genetic engineering of oncolytic measles virus, a prime candidate for cancer immunovirotherapy. Furthermore, we will provide a brief overview of measles virus-based multimodal combination therapies for improved tumor control and clinical efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias F Leber
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada.
| | - Serge Neault
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Elise Jirovec
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Russell Barkley
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Aida Said
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L1, Canada; University of Ottawa, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - John C Bell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Guy Ungerechts
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada
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13
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Mühlebach MD. Measles virus in cancer therapy. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 41:85-97. [PMID: 32861945 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the last years, the development of viruses to treat cancer patients has re-gained considerable attention. A genetically modified herpesvirus, Talimogene laherparepvec, has already been authorized for the treatment of melanoma patients. Also recombinant measles virus (MeV) is developed as an oncolytic virus. Because of its high genetic flexibility, a number of different MeV strains have been the basis for the generation of targeted, armed, or shielded viruses that are highly specific for a given tumor target, more effective, or protected against serum neutralization. Such MeV have been extensively tested in vitro and in vivo, whereby remarkable oncolytic potency is accompanied by safety also in non-human primates. Therefore, MeV has been introduced into 19 different clinical trials and has reached phase II against two different tumor entities, multiple myeloma and ovarian carcinoma. Remarkably, one patient with advanced stage myeloma experienced long-term remission after treatment, visualizing the potency of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Mühlebach
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 51-59, D-63225 Langen, Germany.
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14
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Leber MF, Hoyler B, Prien S, Neault S, Engeland CE, Förster JM, Bossow S, Springfeld C, von Kalle C, Jäger D, Bell JC, Ungerechts G. Sequencing of serially passaged measles virus affirms its genomic stability and reveals a nonrandom distribution of consensus mutations. J Gen Virol 2020; 101:399-409. [PMID: 32053093 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging treatment option for numerous cancers, with several virus families currently being evaluated in clinical trials. More specifically, vaccine-strain measles virus has arisen as a promising candidate for the treatment of different tumour types in several early clinical trials. Replicating viruses, and especially RNA viruses without proofreading polymerases, can rapidly adapt to varying environments by selecting quasispecies with advantageous genetic mutations. Subsequently, these genetic alterations could potentially weaken the safety profile of virotherapy. In this study, we demonstrate that, following an extended period of virus replication in producer or cancer cell lines, the quasispecies consensus sequence of vaccine strain-derived measles virus accrues a remarkably small number of mutations throughout the nonsegmented negative-stranded RNA genome. Interestingly, we detected a nonrandom distribution of genetic alterations within the genome, with an overall decreasing frequency of mutations from the 3' genome start to its 5' end. Comparing the serially passaged viruses to the parental virus on producer cells, we found that the acquired consensus mutations did not drastically change viral replication kinetics or cytolytic potency. Collectively, our data corroborate the genomic stability and excellent safety profile of oncolytic measles virus, thus supporting its continued development and clinical translation as a promising viro-immunotherapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Felix Leber
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Birgit Hoyler
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefanie Prien
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Serge Neault
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Christine E Engeland
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Judith M Förster
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, Im Neuenheimer Feld 234, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Bossow
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Sidra Medical and Research Center, Al Luqta Street, Education City, North Campus, 26999, Doha, Qatar.,Berlin Institute of Health and Charité, Universitätsmedizin, Anna-Louisa-Karsch-Straße 2, 10178 Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Translational Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - John C Bell
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada
| | - Guy Ungerechts
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Cancer Therapeutics Program, 501 Smyth Road, Ottawa, ON K1H 8L6, Canada.,Heidelberg University Hospital, Department of Medical Oncology, Im Neuenheimer Feld 460, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Raghuram A, Singh A, Chang DK, Nunez M, Reece EM, Schultz BE. The Evolving Landscape of Gene Therapy in Plastic Surgery. Semin Plast Surg 2019; 33:167-172. [PMID: 31384232 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1693131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
With the rapid rise of personalized genomic sequencing and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) technology, previous gaps in gene therapy are beginning to be bridged, paving the way for increasing clinical applicability. This article aims to provide an overview of the fundamentals of gene therapy and discuss future potential interventions relevant to plastic surgeons. These interventions include enhancing tissue regeneration and healing, as well as modifying disease processes in congenital anomalies. Though clinical applications are still on the horizon, a deeper understanding of these new advances will help plastic surgeons understand the current landscape of gene therapy and stay abreast of future opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aspinder Singh
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Daniel K Chang
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Mervin Nunez
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Edward M Reece
- Division of Plastic Surgery, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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16
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Abstract
Although overall cancer death rates are decreasing, comparative improvements in head and neck squamous cell cancer are modest. Although new advances targeting immune checkpoints may soon improve these numbers, additional research for new therapeutic options is vital. One potential treatment avenue is the use of gene therapy. This article provides insight into some gene therapy targets and varied techniques being evaluated for patients with head and neck cancer. Techniques include corrective gene therapy, cytoreductive gene therapy, and gene editing, in addition to a discussion on gene therapy vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary L Farmer
- Levine Cancer Institute, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA
| | - Edward S Kim
- Solid Tumor Oncology and Investigational Therapeutics, Levine Cancer Institute, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 3100, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA
| | - Daniel R Carrizosa
- Head and Neck Division, Department of Solid Tumor Oncology, Levine Cancer Institute, 1021 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 3200, Charlotte, NC 28204, USA.
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17
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Ungerechts G, Engeland CE, Buchholz CJ, Eberle J, Fechner H, Geletneky K, Holm PS, Kreppel F, Kühnel F, Lang KS, Leber MF, Marchini A, Moehler M, Mühlebach MD, Rommelaere J, Springfeld C, Lauer UM, Nettelbeck DM. Virotherapy Research in Germany: From Engineering to Translation. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 28:800-819. [PMID: 28870120 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy is a unique modality for the treatment of cancer with oncolytic viruses (OVs) that selectively infect and lyse tumor cells, spread within tumors, and activate anti-tumor immunity. Various viruses are being developed as OVs preclinically and clinically, several of them engineered to encode therapeutic proteins for tumor-targeted gene therapy. Scientists and clinicians in German academia have made significant contributions to OV research and development, which are highlighted in this review paper. Innovative strategies for "shielding," entry or postentry targeting, and "arming" of OVs have been established, focusing on adenovirus, measles virus, parvovirus, and vaccinia virus platforms. Thereby, new-generation virotherapeutics have been derived. Moreover, immunotherapeutic properties of OVs and combination therapies with pharmacotherapy, radiotherapy, and especially immunotherapy have been investigated and optimized. German investigators are increasingly assessing their OV innovations in investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical trials. As a prototype, parvovirus has been tested as an OV from preclinical proof-of-concept up to first-in-human clinical studies. The approval of the first OV in the Western world, T-VEC (Imlygic), has further spurred the involvement of investigators in Germany in international multicenter studies. With the encouraging developments in funding, commercialization, and regulatory procedures, more German engineering will be translated into OV clinical trials in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Ungerechts
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany .,3 Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine E Engeland
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian J Buchholz
- 4 Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany .,5 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), partner site Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Eberle
- 6 Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Centre Charité , Berlin, Germany
| | - Henry Fechner
- 7 Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology , Department of Applied Biochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Geletneky
- 8 Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Darmstadt , Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Per Sonne Holm
- 9 Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich , Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Kreppel
- 10 Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biomedical Research and Education (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, University Witten/Herdecke (UW/H), Witten, Germany
| | - Florian Kühnel
- 11 Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Karl Sebastian Lang
- 12 Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen, Germany
| | - Mathias F Leber
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonio Marchini
- 13 Department of Tumor Virology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany .,14 Laboratory of Oncolytic Virus Immuno-Therapeutics (LOVIT), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Markus Moehler
- 15 University Medical Center Mainz , I. Dept. of Internal Medicine, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael D Mühlebach
- 16 Product Testing of Immunological Veterinary Medicinal Products, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | - Jean Rommelaere
- 13 Department of Tumor Virology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- 17 Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, Medical University Hospital , Tübingen, Germany .,18 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), partner site Tübingen, Germany
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18
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Malinzi J, Eladdadi A, Sibanda P. Modelling the spatiotemporal dynamics of chemovirotherapy cancer treatment. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL DYNAMICS 2017; 11:244-274. [PMID: 28537127 DOI: 10.1080/17513758.2017.1328079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Chemovirotherapy is a combination therapy with chemotherapy and oncolytic viruses. It is gaining more interest and attracting more attention in the clinical setting due to its effective therapy and potential synergistic interactions against cancer. In this paper, we develop and analyse a mathematical model in the form of parabolic non-linear partial differential equations to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of tumour cells under chemovirotherapy treatment. The proposed model consists of uninfected and infected tumour cells, a free virus, and a chemotherapeutic drug. The analysis of the model is carried out for both the temporal and spatiotemporal cases. Travelling wave solutions to the spatiotemporal model are used to determine the minimum wave speed of tumour invasion. A sensitivity analysis is performed on the model parameters to establish the key parameters that promote cancer remission during chemovirotherapy treatment. Model analysis of the temporal model suggests that virus burst size and virus infection rate determine the success of the virotherapy treatment, whereas travelling wave solutions to the spatiotemporal model show that tumour diffusivity and growth rate are critical during chemovirotherapy. Simulation results reveal that chemovirotherapy is more effective and a good alternative to either chemotherapy or virotherapy, which is in agreement with the recent experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Malinzi
- a Department of Mathematics and Applied Mathematics , University of Pretoria , Hatfield , South Africa
| | - Amina Eladdadi
- b Department of Mathematics , The College of Saint Rose , Albany , New York , USA
| | - Precious Sibanda
- c School of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science , University of KwaZulu Natal , Scottsville , South Africa
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19
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Engeland CE, Bossow S, Hudacek AW, Hoyler B, Förster J, Veinalde R, Jäger D, Cattaneo R, Ungerechts G, Springfeld C. A Tupaia paramyxovirus vector system for targeting and transgene expression. J Gen Virol 2017; 98:2248-2257. [PMID: 28809150 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.000887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses from the diverse family of Paramyxoviridae include important pathogens and are applied in gene therapy and for cancer treatment. The Tupaia paramyxovirus (TPMV), isolated from the kidney of a tree shrew, does not infect human cells and neutralizing antibodies against other Paramyxoviridae do not cross-react with TPMV. Here, we present a vector system for de novo generation of infectious TPMV that allows for insertion of additional genes as well as targeting using antibody single-chain variable fragments. We show that the recombinant TPMV specifically infect cells expressing the targeted receptor and replicate in human cells. This vector system provides a valuable tool for both basic research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine E Engeland
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Bossow
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Present address: Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew W Hudacek
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Graduate School, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Birgit Hoyler
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Judith Förster
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rūta Veinalde
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Jäger
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roberto Cattaneo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Graduate School, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Guy Ungerechts
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.,Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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20
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oncolytic viruses represent a novel treatment modality that is unencumbered by the standard resistance mechanisms limiting the therapeutic efficacy of conventional antineoplastic agents. Attenuated engineered measles virus strains derived from the Edmonston vaccine lineage have undergone extensive preclinical evaluation with significant antitumor activity observed in a broad range of preclinical tumoral models. These have laid the foundation for several clinical trials in both solid and hematologic malignancies, which have demonstrated safety, biologic activity and the ability to elicit antitumor immune responses. Areas covered: This review examines the published preclinical data which supported the clinical translation of this therapeutic platform, reviews the available clinical trial data and expands on ongoing phase II testing. It also looks at approaches to optimize clinical applicability and offers future perspectives. Expert opinion: Reverse genetic engineering has allowed the generation of oncolytic MV strains retargeted to increase viral tumor specificity, or armed with therapeutic and immunomodulatory genes in order to enhance anti-tumor efficacy. Continuous efforts focusing on exploring methods to overcome resistance pathways and determining optimal combinatorial strategies will facilitate further development of this encouraging antitumor strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Robinson
- a Division of Medical Oncology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA
| | - Evanthia Galanis
- a Division of Medical Oncology , Mayo Clinic , Rochester , MN , USA
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Old MO, Wise-Draper T, Wright CL, Kaur B, Teknos T. The current status of oncolytic viral therapy for head and neck cancer. World J Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2016; 2:84-89. [PMID: 29204552 PMCID: PMC5698520 DOI: 10.1016/j.wjorl.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Cancer affects the head and neck region frequently and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Oncolytic viral therapy has the potential to make a big impact in cancers that affect the head and neck. We intend to review the current state of oncolytic viruses in the treatment of cancers that affect the head and neck region. Method Data sources are from National clinical trials database, literature, and current research. Results There are many past and active trials for oncolytic viruses that show promise for treating cancers of the head and neck. The first oncolytic virus was approved by the FDA October 2015 (T-VEC, Amgen) for the treatment of melanoma. Active translational research continues for this and many other oncolytic viruses. Conclusion The evolving field of oncolytic viruses is impacting the treatment of head and neck cancer and further trials and agents are moving forward in the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew O Old
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, USA
| | - Trisha Wise-Draper
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, USA
| | - Chadwick L Wright
- Wright Center of Innovation in Biomedical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Department of Radiology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, USA
| | - Balveen Kaur
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Dardinger Laboratory for Neuro-Oncology and Neurosciences, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA
| | - Theodoros Teknos
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University, USA
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Parsel SM, Grandis JR, Thomas SM. Nucleic acid targeting: towards personalized therapy for head and neck cancer. Oncogene 2015; 35:3217-26. [PMID: 26592450 PMCID: PMC4877278 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2015] [Revised: 09/29/2015] [Accepted: 10/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In light of a detailed characterization of genetic aberrations in cancer, nucleic acid targeting represents an attractive therapeutic approach with significant translational potential. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide with stagnant 5-year survival rates. Advances in conventional treatment have done little to improve survival and combined chemoradiation is associated with significant adverse effects. Recent reports have characterized the genetic alterations in HNSCC and demonstrated that mutations confer resistance to conventional and molecular targeted therapies. The ability to use specific nucleic acid sequences to inhibit cancer-associated genes including non-druggable targets facilitates personalized medicine approaches with less adverse effects. Additionally, advances in drug delivery mechanisms have increased the transfection efficiency aiding in greater therapeutic responses. Given these advances, the stage has been set to translate the information garnered from genomic studies into personalized treatment strategies. Genes involved in the tumor protein 53 (TP53) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathways have been extensively investigated and many promising preclinical studies have shown tumor inhibition through genetic modulation. We, and others, have demonstrated that targeting oncogene expression with gene therapy approaches is feasible in patients. Other methods such as RNA interference have proven to be effective and are potential candidates for clinical studies. This review summarizes the major advances in sequence-specific gene modulation in the preclinical setting and in clinical trials in head and neck cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Parsel
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - J R Grandis
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - S M Thomas
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA
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Malhotra A, Sendilnathan A, Old MO, Wise-Draper TM. Oncolytic virotherapy for head and neck cancer: current research and future developments. Oncolytic Virother 2015; 4:83-93. [PMID: 27512673 PMCID: PMC4918384 DOI: 10.2147/ov.s54503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck cancer (HNC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide. Despite recent advancements in surgical, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, HNC remains a highly morbid and fatal disease. Unlike many other cancers, local control rather than systemic control is important for HNC survival. Therefore, novel local therapy in addition to systemic therapy is urgently needed. Oncolytic virotherapy holds promise in this regard as viruses can be injected intratumorally as well as intravenously with excellent safety profiles. This review will discuss the recent advancements in oncolytic virotherapy, highlighting some of the most promising candidates and modifications to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshiv Malhotra
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Arun Sendilnathan
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Matthew O Old
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Trisha M Wise-Draper
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Oncolytic vaccinia virus synergizes with irinotecan in colorectal cancer. Mol Oncol 2015; 9:1539-52. [PMID: 26004084 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2015.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2014] [Revised: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) is complex clinical challenge for which there are limited treatment options. Chemotherapy with or without surgery provides moderate improvements in overall survival and quality of life; nevertheless the 5-year survival remains below 30%. Oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV) shows strong anti-tumour activity in models of CRC, however transient delays in disease progression are insufficient to lead to long-term survival. Here we examined the efficacy of VV with oxaliplatin or SN-38 (active metabolite of irinotecan) in CRC cell lines in vitro and VV with irinotecan in an orthotopic model of metastatic CRC. Synergistic improvements in in vitro cell killing were observed in multiple cell lines. Combination therapy was well tolerated in tumour-bearing mice and the median survival was significantly increased relative to monotherapy despite a drug-dependent decrease in the mean tumour titer. Increased apoptosis following in vitro and in vivo combination therapy was observed. In vitro cell cycle analysis showed increases in S-phase cells following infection occurred in both infected and uninfected cell populations. This corresponded to a 4-fold greater increase in apoptosis in the uninfected compared to infected cells following combination therapy. Combination treatment strategies are among the best options for patients with advanced cancers. VV is currently under clinical investigation in patients with CRC and the data presented here suggest that its combination with irinotecan may provide benefit to a subset of CRC patients. Further, investigation of this combination is necessary to determine the tumour characteristics responsible for mediating synergy.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Viral gene therapy is a promising new treatment modality for head and neck cancer. This paper provides the reader with a review of the relevant literature in this field. RESULTS There are government licensed viral gene therapy products currently in use for head and neck cancer, utilised in conjunction with established treatment modalities. The viruses target tumour-associated genes, with the first licensed virus replacing p53 gene function, which is frequently lost in tumourigenesis. Oncolytic viruses selectively destroy cancer cells through viral replication and can be armed with therapeutic transgenes. CONCLUSION Despite considerable advances in this field over the last 40 years, further research is needed to improve the overall efficacy of the viruses and allow their widespread utilisation in the management of head and neck cancer.
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Leoh LS, Morizono K, Kershaw KM, Chen ISY, Penichet ML, Daniels-Wells TR. Gene delivery in malignant B cells using the combination of lentiviruses conjugated to anti-transferrin receptor antibodies and an immunoglobulin promoter. J Gene Med 2014; 16:11-27. [PMID: 24436117 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 01/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND We previously developed an antibody-avidin fusion protein (ch128.1Av) specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1; CD71) to be used as a delivery vector for cancer therapy and showed that ch128.1Av delivers the biotinylated plant toxin saporin-6 into malignant B cells. However, as a result of widespread expression of TfR1, delivery of the toxin to normal cells is a concern. Therefore, we explored the potential of a dual targeted lentiviral-mediated gene therapy strategy to restrict gene expression to malignant B cells. Targeting occurs through the use of ch128.1Av or its parental antibody without avidin (ch128.1) and through transcriptional regulation using an immunoglobulin promoter. METHODS Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in a panel of cell lines. Cell viability after specific delivery of the therapeutic gene FCU1, a chimeric enzyme consisting of cytosine deaminase genetically fused to uracil phosphoribosyltransferse that converts the 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) prodrug into toxic metabolites, was monitored using the MTS or WST-1 viability assay. RESULTS We found that EGFP was specifically expressed in a panel of human malignant B-cell lines, but not in human malignant T-cell lines. EGFP expression was observed in all cell lines when a ubiquitous promoter was used. Furthermore, we show the decrease of cell viability in malignant plasma cells in the presence of 5-FC and the FCU1 gene. CONCLUSIONS The present study demonstrates that gene expression can be restricted to malignant B cells and suggests that this dual targeted gene therapy strategy may help to circumvent the potential side effects of certain TfR1-targeted protein delivery approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lai Sum Leoh
- Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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Wright RC, Khakhar A, Eshleman JR, Ostermeier M. Advancements in the development of HIF-1α-activated protein switches for use in enzyme prodrug therapy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e114032. [PMID: 25426963 PMCID: PMC4245239 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
While gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy has shown potential as a cancer therapeutic in animal and clinical trials, concerns over the efficacy, selectivity, and safety of gene delivery vehicles have restricted its advance. In an attempt to relieve some of the demands on targeted gene delivery vehicles and achieve the full potential of enzyme prodrug therapy, cancer-targeted activity can be engineered into the enzyme itself. We previously engineered a switchable prodrug-activating enzyme that selectively kills human cancer cells accumulating the cancer marker hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). This HIF-1α-activated protein switch (Haps59) is designed to increase its ability to convert the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine into the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil in a HIF-1α-dependent manner. However, in cancer cell lines expressing Haps59 the 5FC sensitivity difference between the presence and absence of HIF-1α was not as large as desired. In this work, we aimed to improve the cancer specificity of this switch via a directed evolution approach utilizing random mutagenesis, linker mutagenesis, and random insertion and circular permutation. We identified improved HIF-1α-activated protein switches that confer E. coli with modest increases in HIF-1α-dependent 5FC toxicity. Additionally, the current bottleneck in the development of improved HIF-1α-activated protein switches is screening switch candidates in mammalian cells. To accommodate higher throughput and reduce experimental variability, we explored the use of Flp recombinase-mediated isogenic integration in 293 cells. These experiments raised the possibility that Haps59 can be activated by other interactors of the CH1 domain, and experiments in E. coli indicated that CITED2 can also activate Haps59. Although many CH1 binding partners are also oncogenes, CH1's promiscuous binding and subsequent off-target activation of Haps59 needs to be examined under normal physiological conditions to identify off-target activators. With aberrant activating molecules identified, further directed evolution can be performed to improve the cancer specificity of HIF-1α-activated protein switches.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Clay Wright
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arjun Khakhar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - James R. Eshleman
- Departments of Pathology and Oncology, Sol Goldman Pancreatic Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Marc Ostermeier
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW In recent years, remarkable progress has been made in the development of cancer gene therapy into an applicable treatment modality for immunogene, suicide, gene correction and oncolytic therapies. New exciting developments for gene suppression or miRNA therapies are under way. The efforts are focused on more efficient and specific attack at known and novel targets, improvement of vector delivery and therapeutic efficacy. In this review, promising and new gene therapy approaches and clinical studies are briefly discussed to highlight important future directions of preclinical and clinical efforts. RECENT FINDINGS Apart from progress for vector development and even more important, improvements for suicide, T-cell-based, oncolytic virus therapies were achieved. In addition, new emerging therapies are successfully developed, which are particularly promising for siRNA-based technologies applied to gene suppression therapy. Novel approaches, such as transcription factor ODN-based decoy, complement the spectrum of current cancer gene therapy. SUMMARY In summary, cancer gene therapy has made remarkable progress in the improvement/refinement of existing strategies and delivery systems. The field is moving toward a therapeutic option, which will also be applicable for the treatment of disseminated metastases. Furthermore, numerous new approaches are about to be translated in clinical trials.
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Takeda S, Kanbayashi D, Kurata T, Yoshiyama H, Komano J. Enhanced susceptibility of B lymphoma cells to measles virus by Epstein-Barr virus type III latency that upregulates CD150/signaling lymphocytic activation molecule. Cancer Sci 2014; 105:211-8. [PMID: 24238277 PMCID: PMC4317819 DOI: 10.1111/cas.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2013] [Revised: 11/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Measles virus (MV) is one of the candidates for the application of oncolytic virotherapy (OVT). Although an advanced clinical study has been reported on a T-cell lymphoma, the potential of MV OVT against B-cell lymphomas remains to be clarified. We found that an EBV-transformed B lymphoblastoid cell line, a model for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and EBV-positive Burkitt's lymphoma cells bearing type III latency were highly susceptible to the cytolysis induced by an MV vaccine strain CAM-70. As analyzed by EBV-positive and -negative counterparts of the same cytogenetic background, type III EBV latency, not type I, was shown to augment the susceptibility of B lymphoma cells to MV-induced cytolysis. Cell surface levels of CD150/signaling lymphocytic activation molecule, a receptor of MV, were upregulated in B lymphoma cell lines with type III EBV latency by 3.8-fold, on average. The cytolytic activity of CD150-tropic WT MV was akin to that of CD46- and CD150-tropic CAM-70, suggesting that CD150 is critical for the susceptibility to MV-induced cytolysis. Among EBV-encoded genes, latent membrane protein 1 was responsible for the CD150 upregulation. It was notable that the majority of B lymphoma cell lines of type III EBV latency showed higher susceptibility to the non-Edmonston-derived CAM-70 than to the Edmonston-derived Schwarz strain. This is the first report indicating the potential of non-Edmonston MV strain for the application of OVT. Furthermore, a cellular regulator of MV replication was implicated that functions in a vaccine strain-specific fashion. Altogether, the MV OVT should serve as an alternative therapy against EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with type III EBV latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Takeda
- AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
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Lange S, Lampe J, Bossow S, Zimmermann M, Neubert W, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. A novel armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Hum Gene Ther 2013; 24:554-64. [PMID: 23550539 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2012.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is curable only in early stages by complete surgical resection. Thus, in advanced disease stages in which a complete removal of the tumor mass is no longer possible and palliative chemotherapy achieves only modest success, therapeutics employing new methods of action are desperately needed. Oncolytic viruses employed in clinical studies have been shown to spread preferentially in cancer cells. Beyond that, virotherapeutic cell killing can be enhanced by virus-based expression of suicide genes. We engineered a measles vaccine virus (MeV) vector expressing super cytosine deaminase (SCD), a fusion protein of yeast cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, which converts the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and subsequently to 5-fluorouridine-monophosphate. This novel vector was evaluated using three different human-derived CC cell lines. In vitro, all CC cell lines were found to be permissive to MeV infection. Partial blocking of MeV-mediated oncolysis could be overcome by employment of the SCD transgene together with administration of 5-FC. In vivo, intratumoral application of SCD-armed MeV together with a systemic 5-FC treatment showed a significant reduction in tumor size in a TFK-1 xenograft mouse model when compared with virus-only treatment. In a second animal experiment employing a HuCCT1 xenograft tumor model, an enhanced SCD-armed MeV vector, in which the SCD transgene was expressed from a different genomic position, led not only to reduced tumor volumes, but also to a significant survival benefit. On the basis of these encouraging preclinical data on employment of SCD-armed MeV for the virotherapeutic treatment of chemotherapy-resistant CC, a clinical virotherapy trial is set up currently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Lange
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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An armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus eliminates human hepatoma cells independently of apoptosis. Gene Ther 2013; 20:1033-41. [PMID: 23719065 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2013.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2012] [Revised: 04/19/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Due to late diagnosis and a pronounced chemoresistance, most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have an overall poor prognosis. Measles vaccine viruses (MeV) have been shown to possess anti-tumor properties and their efficacy has been enhanced by arming with suicide genes. To test armed MeV for the treatment of HCC, we equipped it with the suicide gene Super-cytosine deaminase (SCD) and tested the efficacy in cell culture and in a mouse xenograft model of human HCC. Prodrug conversion was investigated in cell culture and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. We observed a strong oncolytic activity of MeV-SCD against human HCC in vitro and in vivo. The prodrug was efficiently converted in infected cells leading to a significant enhancement of the cytotoxic effect. Treatment of HCC xenografts with MeV caused long-term virus replication in tumor tissue. We show that the suicide gene therapy induces an apoptosis-like cell death but is not dependent on intact apoptosis pathways. These results demonstrate that MeV-based suicide gene therapy is a promising novel therapy regimen for HCC overcoming resistance towards conventional therapy. The independence from apoptosis raises hopes for the treatment of patients whose tumor cells exert defects in this cell death mechanism.
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Völker I, Bach P, Coulibaly C, Plesker R, Abel T, Seifried J, Heidmeier S, Mühlebach MD, Lauer UM, Buchholz CJ. Intrahepatic Application of Suicide Gene-Armed Measles Virotherapeutics: A Safety Study in Transgenic Mice and Rhesus Macaques. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2013; 24:11-22. [DOI: 10.1089/humc.2012.242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Iris Völker
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Patricia Bach
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Cheick Coulibaly
- Central Animal Unit, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Roland Plesker
- Central Animal Unit, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Tobias Abel
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Janna Seifried
- Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vaccine Vectors, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Sabine Heidmeier
- Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vaccine Vectors, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Michael D. Mühlebach
- Oncolytic Measles Viruses and Vaccine Vectors, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M. Lauer
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital, D-72070 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christian J. Buchholz
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, D-63225 Langen, Germany
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Innate immune defense defines susceptibility of sarcoma cells to measles vaccine virus-based oncolysis. J Virol 2013; 87:3484-501. [PMID: 23302892 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02106-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncolytic potential of measles vaccine virus (MeV) has been demonstrated in several tumor entities. Here, we investigated the susceptibility of eight sarcoma cell lines to MeV-mediated oncolysis and found five to be susceptible, whereas three proved to be resistant. In the MeV-resistant cell lines, we often observed an inhibition of viral replication along with a strong upregulation of the intracellular virus-sensing molecule RIG-I and of the interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene IFIT1. Not only expression of IFIT1 but also phosphorylation of IFN-stimulated Stat1 took place rapidly and were found to be persistent over time. In contrast, susceptible cell lines showed a much weaker, delayed, or completely missing expression of IFIT1 as well as a delayed or only transient phosphorylation of Stat1, whereas exogenic stimulation with beta interferon (IFN-β) resulted in a comparable profound activation of Stat1 and expression of IFIT1 in all cell lines. Pretreatment with IFN-β rendered three of the susceptible cell lines more resistant to MeV-mediated oncolysis. These data suggest that differences in the innate immune defense often account for different degrees of susceptibility of sarcoma cell lines to MeV-mediated oncolysis. From a therapeutic perspective, we were able to overcome resistance to MeV by increasing the multiplicity of infection (MOI) and by addition of the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (FC), thereby exploiting the suicide gene function of virotherapeutic vector MeV-SCD armed with the SCD fusion protein, which consists of yeast cytosine deaminase and yeast uracil phosphoribosyltransferase.
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Chemovirotherapy of malignant melanoma with a targeted and armed oncolytic measles virus. J Invest Dermatol 2012; 133:1034-42. [PMID: 23223133 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2012.459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Effective treatment modalities for advanced melanoma are desperately needed. An innovative approach is virotherapy, in which viruses are engineered to infect cancer cells, resulting in tumor cell lysis and an amplification effect by viral replication and spread. Ideally, tumor selectivity of these oncolytic viruses is already determined during viral cell binding and entry, which has not been reported for melanoma. We engineered an oncolytic measles virus entering melanoma cells through the high molecular weight melanoma-associated antigen (HMWMAA) and proved highly specific infection and spread in melanoma cells. We further enhanced this oncolytic virus by inserting the FCU1 gene encoding the yeast-derived prodrug convertases cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase. Combination treatment with armed and retargeted MV-FCU1-αHMWMAA and the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) led to effective prodrug conversion to 5-fluorouracil, extensive cytotoxicity to melanoma cells, and excessive bystander killing of noninfected cells. Importantly, HMWMAA-retargeted MV showed antitumor activity in a human xenograft mouse model, which was further increased by the FCU1/5-FC prodrug activation system. Finally, we demonstrated susceptibility of melanoma skin metastasis biopsies to HMWMAA-retargeted MV. The highly selective, entry-targeted and armed oncolytic virus MV-FCU1-αHMWMAA may become a potent building block of future melanoma therapies.
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35
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Pediatr 2012; 24:770-9. [PMID: 23146873 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0b013e32835af8de] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Hiss DC, Fielding BC. Optimization and preclinical design of genetically engineered viruses for human oncolytic therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2012; 12:1427-47. [PMID: 22788715 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2012.707183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oncolytic viruses (OVs) occupy a strategic niche in the dynamic era of biological and gene therapy of human cancers. However, the use of OVs is the subject of close scrutiny due to impediments such as the insufficiency of patient generalizations posed by heterogeneous tumor responses to treatment, inherent or potentially lethal viral pathogenicities, unanticipated host- or immune-related adverse effects, and the emergence of virus-resistant cancer cells. These challenges can be overcome by the design and development of more definitive (optimized, targeted, and individualized) cancer virotherapeutics. AREAS COVERED The translation of current knowledge and recent innovations into rational treatment prospects hinges on an iterative loop of variables pertaining to genetically engineered viral oncolytic efficacy and safety profiles, mechanism-of-action data, potencies of synergistic oncolytic viral combinations with conventional tumor, immuno-, chemo-, and radiation treatment modalities, optimization of the probabilities of treatment successes in heterogeneous (virus-sensitive and -resistant) tumor cell populations by mathematical modeling, and lessons learned from preclinical studies and human clinical trials. EXPERT OPINION In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that proof-of-principle is critical for the preclinical optimization of oncolytic viruses to target heterogeneous forms of cancer and to prioritize current concerns related to the efficacy and safety of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donavon C Hiss
- University of the Western Cape, Department of Medical Biosciences, Molecular Oncology Research Laboratory, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.
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