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Gujar S, Pol JG, Kumar V, Lizarralde-Guerrero M, Konda P, Kroemer G, Bell JC. Tutorial: design, production and testing of oncolytic viruses for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1. [PMID: 38769145 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a novel class of cancer immunotherapy agents that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells and promote protective antitumor immunity. Furthermore, OVs can be used in combination with established or upcoming immunotherapeutic agents, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, to efficiently target a wide range of malignancies. The development of OV-based therapy involves three major steps before clinical evaluation: design, production and preclinical testing. OVs can be designed as natural or engineered strains and subsequently selected for their ability to kill a broad spectrum of cancer cells rather than normal, healthy cells. OV selection is further influenced by multiple factors, such as the availability of a specific viral platform, cancer cell permissivity, the need for genetic engineering to render the virus non-pathogenic and/or more effective and logistical considerations around the use of OVs within the laboratory or clinical setting. Selected OVs are then produced and tested for their anticancer potential by using syngeneic, xenograft or humanized preclinical models wherein immunocompromised and immunocompetent setups are used to elucidate their direct oncolytic ability as well as indirect immunotherapeutic potential in vivo. Finally, OVs demonstrating the desired anticancer potential progress toward translation in patients with cancer. This tutorial provides guidelines for the design, production and preclinical testing of OVs, emphasizing considerations specific to OV technology that determine their clinical utility as cancer immunotherapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jonathan G Pol
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Vishnupriyan Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Manuela Lizarralde-Guerrero
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Prathyusha Konda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France.
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
| | - John C Bell
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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2
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Zeng M, Zhang W, Li Y, Yu L. Harnessing adenovirus in cancer immunotherapy: evoking cellular immunity and targeting delivery in cell-specific manner. Biomark Res 2024; 12:36. [PMID: 38528632 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00581-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) regimens, including replication-competent oncolytic adenovirus (OAV) and replication-deficient adenovirus, have been identified as potential cancer therapeutics. OAV presents advantages such as selective replication, oncolytic efficacy, and tumor microenvironment (TME) remodeling. In this perspective, the principles and advancements in developing OAV toolkits are reviewed. The burgeoning rAd may dictate efficacy of conventional cancer therapies as well as cancer immunotherapies, including cancer vaccines, synergy with adoptive cell therapy (ACT), and TME reshaping. Concurrently, we explored the potential of rAd hitchhiking to adoptive immune cells or stem cells, highlighting how this approach facilitates synergistic interactions between rAd and cellular therapeutics at tumor sites. Results from preclinical and clinical trials in which immune and stem cells were infected with rAd have been used to address significant oncological challenges, such as postsurgical residual tumor tissue and metastatic tissue. Briefly, rAd can eradicate tumors through various mechanisms, resulting from tumor immunogenicity, reprogramming of the TME, enhancement of cellular immunity, and effective tumor targeting. In this context, we argue that rAd holds immense potential for enhancing cellular immunity and synergistically improving antitumor effects in combination with novel cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Zeng
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, International Cancer Center, Hematology Institution of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, International Cancer Center, Hematology Institution of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Yisheng Li
- Shenzhen Haoshi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. No, 155 Hongtian Road, Xinqiao Street, Bao'an District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518125, China.
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen University General Hospital, International Cancer Center, Hematology Institution of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, China.
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3
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Role of Fiber Shaft Length in Tumor Targeting with Ad5/3 Vectors. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13112056. [DOI: 10.3390/genes13112056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Desmoglein 2 (DSG2) is overexpressed in many epithelial cancers and therefore represents a target receptor for oncolytic viruses, including Ad5/3-based viruses. For most Ad serotypes, the receptor-binding fiber is composed of tail, shaft, and knob domains. Here, we investigated the role of the fiber shaft in Ad5/3 tumor transduction in vitro and in human DSG2-transgenic mice carrying human DSG2high tumors. DSG2tg mice express DSG2 in a pattern similar to humans. We constructed Ad5/3L (with the “long” Ad5 shaft) and Ad5/3S (with the “short” Ad3 shaft) expressing GFP or luciferase. In in vitro studies we found that coagulation factor X, which is known to mediate undesired hepatocyte transduction of Ad5, enhances the transduction of Ad5/3(L), but not the transduction of Ad5/3(S). We therefore hypothesized that Ad5/3(S) would target DSG2high tumors while sparing the liver after intravenous injection. In vivo imaging studies for luciferase and analysis of luciferase activity in isolated organs, showed that Ad5/3(L) vectors efficiently transduced DSG2high tumors and liver but not normal epithelial tissues after intravenous injection. Ad5/3(S) showed minimal liver transduction, however it failed to transduce DSG2high tumors. Further modifications of the Ad5/3(S) capsid are required to compensate for the lower infectivity of Ad5/3(S) vectors.
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4
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Liu L, Li H, Xu Q, Wu Y, Chen D, Yu F. Antitumor activity of recombinant oncolytic vaccinia virus with human IL2. Open Med (Wars) 2022; 17:1084-1091. [PMID: 35799600 PMCID: PMC9206501 DOI: 10.1515/med-2022-0496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment is highly immunosuppressive. The genetically modified oncolytic vaccinia virus (OVV) is a promising vector for cancer immunotherapy. The aim of the present study was to assess the antitumor effects of human interleukin-2 (hIL2)-armed OVV in vitro. The hIL2 gene was inserted into a thymidine kinase and the viral growth factor double deleted oncolytic VV (VVDD) to generate recombinant hIL2-armed OVV (rVVDD-hIL2). Viral replication capacity in A549 cells was quantified by plaque titration on CV-1 cells. Production of hIL2 in cancer cells infected by rVVDD-hIL2 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Finally, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-arboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) assay was performed to assess the antitumor effects of rVVDD-hIL2. The results showed that rVVDD-hIL2 viral particles expressed increasing levels of hIL2 in human and murine cancer cell lines with growing multiplicities of infection (MOIs). The insertion of the hIL2 gene did not impair the replication capacity of VV, and the rVVDD-hIL2 virus killed cancer cells efficaciously. The lytic effects of the recombinant oncolytic virus on tumor cells increased with the growing MOIs. In conclusion, these findings suggest that hIL2-armed VVDD effectively infects and lyses tumor cells, with high expression of hIL2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqiong Liu
- Department of Hematology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518052, P. R. China
| | - Huiqun Li
- Department of Hematology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Union Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518052, P. R. China
| | - Qinggang Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, P. R. China
| | - Yan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, P. R. China
| | - Dongfeng Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, P. R. China
| | - Feng Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, No. 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, 212013, P. R. China
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5
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Zafar S, Quixabeira DCA, Kudling TV, Cervera-Carrascon V, Santos JM, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Zhao F, Aronen P, Heiniö C, Havunen R, Sorsa S, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Ad5/3 is able to avoid neutralization by binding to erythrocytes and lymphocytes. Cancer Gene Ther 2021; 28:442-454. [PMID: 32920593 PMCID: PMC8119244 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00226-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising cancer therapeutic agents. Clinical data have shown adenoviruses' ability to transduce tumors after systemic delivery in human cancer patients, despite antibodies. In the present work, we have focused on the interaction of a chimeric adenovirus Ad5/3 with human lymphocytes and human erythrocytes. Ad5/3 binding with human lymphocytes and erythrocytes was observed to occur in a reversible manner, which allowed viral transduction of tumors, and oncolytic potency of Ad5/3 in vitro and in vivo, with or without neutralizing antibodies. Immunodeficient mice bearing xenograft tumors showed enhanced tumor transduction following systemic administration, when Ad5/3 virus was bound to lymphocytes or erythrocytes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our findings reveal that chimeric Ad5/3 adenovirus reaches non-injected tumors in the presence of neutralizing antibodies: it occurs through reversible binding to lymphocytes and erythrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne Carolina Alves Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tatiana Viktorovna Kudling
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fang Zhao
- Advanced Microscopy Unit (AMU), Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pasi Aronen
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Camilla Heiniö
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland.
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland.
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6
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Yang M, Giehl E, Feng C, Feist M, Chen H, Dai E, Liu Z, Ma C, Ravindranathan R, Bartlett DL, Lu B, Guo ZS. IL-36γ-armed oncolytic virus exerts superior efficacy through induction of potent adaptive antitumor immunity. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2021; 70:2467-2481. [PMID: 33538860 PMCID: PMC8360872 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-021-02860-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to apply the cytokine IL-36γ to cancer immunotherapy by constructing new oncolytic vaccinia viruses (OV) expressing interleukin-36γ (IL-36γ-OVs), leveraging unique synergism between OV and IL-36γ’s ability to promote antitumor adaptive immunity and modulate tumor microenvironment (TME). IL-36γ-OV had dramatic therapeutic efficacies in multiple murine tumor models, frequently leading to complete cancer eradication in large fractions of mice. Mechanistically, IL-36-γ-armed OV induced infiltration of lymphocytes and dendritic cells, decreased myeloid-derived suppressor cells and M2-like tumor-associated macrophages, and T cell differentiation into effector cells. Further study showed that IL-36γ-OV increased the number of tumor antigen-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the therapeutic efficacy depended on both CD8+ and CD4+ T cells. These results demonstrate that these IL36γ-armed OVs exert potent therapeutic efficacy mainly though antitumor immunity and they may hold great potential to advance treatment in human cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Yang
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Esther Giehl
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Chao Feng
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mathilde Feist
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, CCM/CVK, Charité-Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hongqi Chen
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Enyong Dai
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zuqiang Liu
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Congrong Ma
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Roshni Ravindranathan
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David L Bartlett
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,AHN-Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Binfeng Lu
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - Zong Sheng Guo
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. .,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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Zafar S, Basnet S, Launonen IM, Quixabeira DCA, Santos J, Hemminki O, Malmstedt M, Cervera-Carrascon V, Aronen P, Kalliokoski R, Havunen R, Rannikko A, Mirtti T, Matikainen M, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncolytic Adenovirus Type 3 Coding for CD40L Facilitates Dendritic Cell Therapy of Prostate Cancer in Humanized Mice and Patient Samples. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:192-202. [PMID: 33050725 PMCID: PMC10112462 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cell (DC)-based vaccines have shown some degree of success for the treatment of prostate cancer (PC). However, the highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment leads to DC dysfunction, which has limited the effectiveness of these vaccines. We hypothesized that use of a fully serotype 3 oncolytic adenovirus (Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L; TILT-234) could stimulate DCs in the prostate tumor microenvironment by expressing CD40L. Activated DCs would then activate cytotoxic T cells against the tumor, resulting in therapeutic immune responses. Oncolytic cell killing due to cancer cell-specific virus replication adds to antitumor effects but also enhances the immunological effect by releasing tumor epitopes for sampling by DC, in the presence of danger signals. In this study, we evaluated the companion effect of Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L and DC-therapy in a humanized mouse model and PC histocultures. Treatment with Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L and DC resulted in enhanced antitumor responses in vivo. Treatment of established histocultures with Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L induced DC maturation and notable increase in proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L is able to modulate an immunosuppressive prostate tumor microenvironment and improve the effectiveness of DC vaccination in PC models and patient histocultures, setting the stage for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Saru Basnet
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Inga-Maria Launonen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dafne Carolina Alves Quixabeira
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Joao Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pasi Aronen
- Biostatistics Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland
| | - Antti Rannikko
- Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | | | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program and Department of Oncology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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8
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Induction of cytotoxic effector cells towards cholangiocellular, pancreatic, and colorectal tumor cells by activation of the immune checkpoint CD40/CD40L on dendritic cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2020; 70:1451-1464. [PMID: 33180184 PMCID: PMC8053193 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02746-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies, such as cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatic carcinoma, and metastatic colorectal carcinoma, have a poor prognosis and effective therapeutic approaches are still challenging. Checkpoint inhibition with PD-1 or PDL-1 antibodies revealed promising results in different tumor entities; however, only few patients with GI tumors can potentially benefit from PD1/PDL1 inhibiting immunotherapy. Further immunotherapeutic strategies for GI malignancies are urgently needed. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that in vitro activation of the immune checkpoint CD40/CD40L can improve DC action towards bile duct, pancreas, and colorectal carcinoma. Methods Human DC were isolated from buffy coats from healthy donors, pulsed with tumor lysates and then transduced with adenoviruses encoding human CD40L (Ad-hCD40L). Using transwell assays, the effects of (m)CD40L on DC immunoactivation compared to (s)CD40L were analyzed. Surface marker and cytokine/chemokine expression were measured by flow cytometry, ELISA and cytokine arrays. Capacity of Ad-hCD40L-transduced DC to induce tumor-specific effector cells was tested using MTT proliferation assay and cytotoxicity assays. Apoptosis induction on tumor cells after culturing with supernatants of Ad-hCD40L-transduced DC was analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Ad-hCD40L transduction induced a high expression of (s)CD40L and (m)CD40L on DC and seemed to induce a strong cellular CD40/CD40L interaction among DC, leading to the formation of cell aggregates. Due to the CD40/CD40L interaction, a significant upregulation of DC maturation markers and a Th1-shift on cytokines/chemokines in the supernatant of DC were achieved. Interestingly, a pure Th1-shift was only achieved, when a cellular CD40/CD40L interaction among DC took place. (s)CD40L induced almost no upregulation of maturation markers and rather resulted in a Th2-cytokine expression, such as IL-10. Correspondingly, (m)CD40L-expressing DC led to significant proliferation and stimulation of tumor-specific effector cells with increased cytotoxicity towards pancreatic, bile duct and colorectal tumor cells. Supernatants of Ad-hCD40L-transduced DC could also induce apoptosis in the different tumor cells in vitro. Conclusion Stimulation of the immune checkpoint CD40L/CD40 by endogenous expression of (m)CD40L provokes a cellular interaction, which increases the immunomodulatory capacity of DC. A Th1 cytokine/chemokine expression is induced, leading to a significant proliferation and enabling cytotoxicity of effector cells towards human bile duct, pancreatic and colorectal tumor cells. The present data point to the promising approach for DC-based immunotherapy of gastrointestinal malignances by activating the CD40/CD40L immune checkpoint. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00262-020-02746-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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9
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Hemminki O, Dos Santos JM, Hemminki A. Oncolytic viruses for cancer immunotherapy. J Hematol Oncol 2020; 13:84. [PMID: 32600470 PMCID: PMC7325106 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-020-00922-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we discuss the use of oncolytic viruses in cancer immunotherapy treatments in general, with a particular focus on adenoviruses. These serve as a model to elucidate how versatile viruses are, and how they can be used to complement other cancer therapies to gain optimal patient benefits. Historical reports from over a hundred years suggest treatment efficacy and safety with adenovirus and other oncolytic viruses. This is confirmed in more contemporary patient series and multiple clinical trials. Yet, while the first viruses have already been granted approval from several regulatory authorities, room for improvement remains. As good safety and tolerability have been seen, the oncolytic virus field has now moved on to increase efficacy in a wide array of approaches. Adding different immunomodulatory transgenes to the viruses is one strategy gaining momentum. Immunostimulatory molecules can thus be produced at the tumor with reduced systemic side effects. On the other hand, preclinical work suggests additive or synergistic effects with conventional treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition, the newly introduced checkpoint inhibitors and other immunomodulatory drugs could make perfect companions to oncolytic viruses. Especially tumors that seem not to be recognized by the immune system can be made immunogenic by oncolytic viruses. Logically, the combination with checkpoint inhibitors is being evaluated in ongoing trials. Another promising avenue is modulating the tumor microenvironment with oncolytic viruses to allow T cell therapies to work in solid tumors. Oncolytic viruses could be the next remarkable wave in cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Hemminki
- Division of Urologic Oncology, Department of Surgical Oncology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. .,Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. .,Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - João Manuel Dos Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. .,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland. .,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland.
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10
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Richards DM, Sefrin JP, Gieffers C, Hill O, Merz C. Concepts for agonistic targeting of CD40 in immuno-oncology. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:377-387. [PMID: 31403344 PMCID: PMC7062441 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1653744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
TNF Receptor Superfamily (TNF-R-SF) signaling is a structurally well-defined event that requires proper receptor clustering and trimerization. While the TNF-SF ligands naturally exist as trivalent functional units, the receptors are usually separated on the cell surface. Critically, receptor assembly into functional trimeric signaling complexes occurs through binding of the natural ligand unit. TNF-R-SF members, including CD40, have been key immunotherapeutic targets for over 20 years. CD40, expressed by antigen-presenting cells, endothelial cells, and many tumors, plays a fundamental role in connecting innate and adaptive immunity. The multiple investigated strategies to induce CD40 signaling can be broadly grouped into antibody-based or CD40L-based approaches. Currently, seven different antibodies and one CD40L-based hexavalent fusion protein are in active clinical trials. In this review, we describe the biology and structural properties of CD40, requirements for agonistic signal transduction through CD40 and summarize current attempts to exploit the CD40 signaling pathway for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Oliver Hill
- Research and Development, Apogenix AG, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Merz
- Research and Development, Apogenix AG, Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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Sprooten J, Ceusters J, Coosemans A, Agostinis P, De Vleeschouwer S, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L, Garg AD. Trial watch: dendritic cell vaccination for cancer immunotherapy. Oncoimmunology 2019; 8:e1638212. [PMID: 31646087 PMCID: PMC6791419 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2019.1638212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic- cells (DCs) have received considerable attention as potential targets for the development of anticancer vaccines. DC-based anticancer vaccination relies on patient-derived DCs pulsed with a source of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) in the context of standardized maturation-cocktails, followed by their reinfusion. Extensive evidence has confirmed that DC-based vaccines can generate TAA-specific, cytotoxic T cells. Nonetheless, clinical efficacy of DC-based vaccines remains suboptimal, reflecting the widespread immunosuppression within tumors. Thus, clinical interest is being refocused on DC-based vaccines as combinatorial partners for T cell-targeting immunotherapies. Here, we summarize the most recent preclinical/clinical development of anticancer DC vaccination and discuss future perspectives for DC-based vaccines in immuno-oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Sprooten
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Ceusters
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
| | - An Coosemans
- Department of Oncology, Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Immunotherapy, ImmunOvar Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven Cancer Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrizia Agostinis
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Cancer Biology (CCB), VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven De Vleeschouwer
- Research Group Experimental Neurosurgery and Neuroanatomy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosurgery, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- INSERM, Villejuif, France
- Center of Clinical Investigations in Biotherapies of Cancer (CICBT) 1428, Villejuif, France
- Université Paris Sud/Paris XI, Le Kremlin-Bicêtre, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le cancer, Université de Paris, Sorbonne Université, INSERM U1138, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France
- Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
- Suzhou Institute for Systems Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Suzhou, China
- Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Université de Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Abhishek D. Garg
- Cell Death Research & Therapy (CDRT) unit, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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12
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Cervera-Carrascon V, Havunen R, Hemminki A. Oncolytic adenoviruses: a game changer approach in the battle between cancer and the immune system. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2019; 19:443-455. [PMID: 30905206 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2019.1595582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oncolytic adenoviruses are among the most studied oncolytic viruses because of their tumor selectivity, safety, and transgene-delivery capability. With a growing number of different immunotherapies against cancer, the extraordinary immunogenicity of the adenovirus has emerged as a differentiating strength. Enabling T-cell related therapies with oncolytic adenoviruses appears a promising approach due to its inherent ability to elicit responses from the adaptive immune compartment. AREAS COVERED These viruses have successfully enhanced both adoptive T-cell therapies and immune-checkpoint therapies. Oncolytic viruses induce several effects at the tumor and on the systemic level that help to circumvent current limitations of T-cells and related therapies, such as T-cell trafficking, tumor immune suppressivity and antigen spreading EXPERT OPINION Taking into account the multitude of possibilities of treating cancer with immunotherapies, learning to optimize the combinations and administration strategies of these drugs, could lead to durable responses in patients with currently incurable cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- a Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,b TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- a Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,b TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- a Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine , University of Helsinki , Helsinki , Finland.,b TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd , Helsinki , Finland.,c Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center , Helsinki University , Helsinki , Finland
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13
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Goradel NH, Mohajel N, Malekshahi ZV, Jahangiri S, Najafi M, Farhood B, Mortezaee K, Negahdari B, Arashkia A. Oncolytic adenovirus: A tool for cancer therapy in combination with other therapeutic approaches. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:8636-8646. [PMID: 30515798 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cancer therapy using oncolytic viruses is an emerging area, in which viruses are engineered to selectively propagate in tumor tissues without affecting healthy cells. Because of the advantages that adenoviruses (Ads) have over other viruses, they are more considered. To achieve tumor selectivity, two main modifications on Ads genome have been applied: small deletions and insertion of tissue- or tumor-specific promoters. Despite oncolytic adenoviruses ability in tumor cell lysis and immune responses stimulation, to further increase their antitumor effects, genomic modifications have been carried out including insertion of checkpoint inhibitors and antigenic or immunostimulatory molecules into the adenovirus genome and combination with dendritic cells and chemotherapeutic agents. This study reviews oncolytic adenoviruses structures, their antitumor efficacy in combination with other therapeutic strategies, and finally challenges around this treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser Hashemi Goradel
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nasir Mohajel
- Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ziba Veisi Malekshahi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Samira Jahangiri
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Masoud Najafi
- Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department, School of Paramedical Sciences, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Bagher Farhood
- Departments of Medical Physics and Radiology, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
| | - Keywan Mortezaee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Babak Negahdari
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arash Arashkia
- Department of Molecular Virology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Kuryk L, Møller ASW, Jaderberg M. Combination of immunogenic oncolytic adenovirus ONCOS-102 with anti-PD-1 pembrolizumab exhibits synergistic antitumor effect in humanized A2058 melanoma huNOG mouse model. Oncoimmunology 2018; 8:e1532763. [PMID: 30713786 PMCID: PMC6343802 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1532763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Malignant melanoma is an aggressive type of skin cancer whose incidence is increasing globally. Although surgery is effective in early stage melanoma, patients with advanced melanoma only have a 20% 5-year survival rate. Hence, combinations of existing and new immunotherapy technologies and immunotherapeutic agents are being evaluated. ONCOS-102 is an oncolytic adenovirus armed with human GM-CSF and an Ad5/3 chimeric capsid. It has shown to be well tolerated in phase I study (NCT01598129) wherein it induced antitumor immunity, infiltration of CD8 + T cells to tumors, and up-regulation of PD-L1. We propose that ONCOS-102 could serve as an immunosensitizer in combination therapies with checkpoint inhibitors. In this preclinical study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of ONCOS-102 and pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in four human melanoma cell lines, A375, A2058, SK-Mel-2 and SK-Mel-28. Humanized mice engrafted with A2058 melanoma cells showed significant tumor volume reduction after ONCOS-102 treatment. Combination of pembrolizumab with ONCOS-102 reduced tumor volume to an even greater extent, while pembrolizumab (200 µg, or 400 µg) did not show any therapeutic benefit by itself. Body weight loss, and metastasis were not significantly affected by any treatment. These data support the scientific rationale for the ongoing clinical study of combination therapy of ONCOS-102 and pembrolizumab for the treatment of melanoma (NCT03003676).
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Kuryk
- Clinical Science, Targovax Oy, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health - National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
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15
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Kowalsky SJ, Liu Z, Feist M, Berkey SE, Ma C, Ravindranathan R, Dai E, Roy EJ, Guo ZS, Bartlett DL. Superagonist IL-15-Armed Oncolytic Virus Elicits Potent Antitumor Immunity and Therapy That Are Enhanced with PD-1 Blockade. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2476-2486. [PMID: 30064894 PMCID: PMC6171074 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic immunotherapy is a promising novel therapeutic for cancer, and further preclinical studies may maximize its therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we construct a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus (VV) expressing a superagoinst IL-15, a fusion protein of IL-15 and IL-15Ralpha. This virus, named vvDD-IL15-Rα, possesses similar replication efficiency as the parental virus vvDD yet leads to significantly more regression of the disease and extends the survival of mice bearing MC38 colon or ID8 ovarian cancer. This novel virus elicits potent adaptive antitumor immunity as shown by ELISPOT assays for interferon-gamma-secreting CD8+ T cells and by the rejection of tumor implants upon re-challenge in the mice, which were previously cured by vvDD-IL15-Rα treatment. In vivo cell depletion assays with antibodies showed that this antitumor activity is highly dependent on CD8+ T cells but much less so on CD4+ T cells and NK cells. Finally, the combination of the oncolytic immunotherapy with anti-PD-1 antibody dramatically improves the therapeutic outcome compared to either anti-PD-1 alone or vvDD-IL15-Rα alone. These results demonstrate that the IL-15-IL-15Rα fusion protein-expressing OV elicits potent antitumor immunity, and rational combination with PD-1 blockade leads to dramatic tumor regression and prolongs the survival of mice bearing colon or ovarian cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stacy J Kowalsky
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zuqiang Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mathilde Feist
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Department of Surgery, CCM/CVK, Charité - Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sara E Berkey
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Congrong Ma
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Roshni Ravindranathan
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Enyong Dai
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Edward J Roy
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zong Sheng Guo
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
| | - David L Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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16
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Pol JG, Lévesque S, Workenhe ST, Gujar S, Le Boeuf F, Clements DR, Fahrner JE, Fend L, Bell JC, Mossman KL, Fucikova J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Oncolytic viro-immunotherapy of hematologic and solid tumors. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1503032. [PMID: 30524901 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1503032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses selectively target and kill cancer cells in an immunogenic fashion, thus supporting the establishment of therapeutically relevant tumor-specific immune responses. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oncolytic herpes simplex virus T-VEC for use in advanced melanoma patients. Since then, a plethora of trials has been initiated to assess the safety and efficacy of multiple oncolytic viruses in patients affected with various malignancies. Here, we summarize recent preclinical and clinical progress in the field of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Pol
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Lévesque
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Samuel T Workenhe
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada.,Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada.,Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Health Sciences Research, Quality and System Performance, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Fabrice Le Boeuf
- Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Derek R Clements
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jean-Eudes Fahrner
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Villejuif, France.,Transgene S.A., Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | | | - John C Bell
- Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Karen L Mossman
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.,Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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17
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Zafar S, Sorsa S, Siurala M, Hemminki O, Havunen R, Cervera-Carrascon V, Santos JM, Wang H, Lieber A, De Gruijl T, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. CD40L coding oncolytic adenovirus allows long-term survival of humanized mice receiving dendritic cell therapy. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1490856. [PMID: 30386680 PMCID: PMC6207416 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1490856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial players in promoting immune responses. Logically, adoptive DC therapy is a promising approach in cancer immunotherapy. One of the major obstacles in cancer immunotherapy in general is the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which hampers the maturation and activation of DCs. Therefore, human clinical outcomes with DC therapy alone have been disappointing. In this study, we use fully serotype 3 oncolytic adenovirus Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L, expressing human CD40L, to modulate the tumor microenvironment with subsequently improved function of DCs. We evaluated the synergistic effects of Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L and DCs in the presence of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells ex vivo and in vivo. Tumors treated with Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L and DCs featured greater antitumor effect compared with unarmed virus or either treatment alone. 100% of humanized mice survived to the end of the experiment, while mice in all other groups died by day 88. Moreover, adenovirally-delivered CD40L induced activation of DCs, leading to induction of Th1 immune responses. These results support clinical trials with Ad3-hTERT-CMV-hCD40L in patients receiving DC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadia Zafar
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Suvi Sorsa
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Otto Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Division of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Havunen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Victor Cervera-Carrascon
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - João Manuel Santos
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hongjie Wang
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andre Lieber
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Tanja De Gruijl
- Department of Medical Oncology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
- Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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18
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Hagedorn C, Kreppel F. Capsid Engineering of Adenovirus Vectors: Overcoming Early Vector-Host Interactions for Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 28:820-832. [PMID: 28854810 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenovirus-based vectors comprise the most frequently used vector type in clinical studies to date. Both intense lab research and insights from the clinical trials reveal the importance of a comprehensive understanding of vector-host interactions. Especially for systemic intravenous adenovirus vector delivery, it is paramount to develop safe and efficacious vectors. Very early vector-host interactions that take place in blood long before the first cell is being transduced are phenomena triggered by the surface, shape, and size of the adenovirus vector particles. Not surprisingly, a multitude of different technologies ranging from genetics to chemistry has been developed to alter the adenovirus vector surface. In this review, we discuss the most important technologies and evaluate them for their suitability to overcome hurdles imposed by early vector-host interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University , Witten, Germany
| | - Florian Kreppel
- Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Witten/Herdecke University , Witten, Germany
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19
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Improved Induction of Anti-Melanoma T Cells by Adenovirus-5/3 Fiber Modification to Target Human DCs. Vaccines (Basel) 2018; 6:vaccines6030042. [PMID: 30022005 PMCID: PMC6161112 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines6030042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To mount a strong anti-tumor immune response, non T cell inflamed (cold) tumors may require combination treatment encompassing vaccine strategies preceding checkpoint inhibition. In vivo targeted delivery of tumor-associated antigens (TAA) to dendritic cells (DCs), relying on the natural functions of primary DCs in situ, represents an attractive vaccination strategy. In this study we made use of a full-length MART-1 expressing C/B-chimeric adenoviral vector, consisting of the Ad5 capsid and the Ad3 knob (Ad5/3), which we previously showed to selectively transduce DCs in human skin and lymph nodes. Our data demonstrate that chimeric Ad5/3 vectors encoding TAA, and able to target human DCs in situ, can be used to efficiently induce expansion of functional tumor-specific CD8+ effector T cells, either from a naïve T cell pool or from previously primed T cells residing in the melanoma-draining sentinel lymph nodes (SLN). These data support the use of Ad3-knob containing viruses as vaccine vehicles for in vivo delivery. “Off-the-shelf” DC-targeted Ad vaccines encoding TAA could clearly benefit future immunotherapeutic approaches.
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20
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Adenovirus Coding for Interleukin-2 and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Replaces Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy in Adoptive T Cell Therapy. Mol Ther 2018; 26:2243-2254. [PMID: 30017877 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/01/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Lymphodepleting preconditioning with high-dose chemotherapy is commonly used to increase the clinical efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) strategies, however, with severe toxicity for patients. Conversely, oncolytic adenoviruses are safe and, when engineered to express interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), they can achieve antitumor immunomodulatory effects similar to lymphodepletion. Therefore, we compare the safety and efficacy of such adenoviruses with a cyclophosphamide- and fludarabine-containing lymphodepleting regimen in the setting of ACT. Human adenovirus (Ad5/3-E2F-D24-hTNF-α-IRES-hIL-2; TILT-123) replication was studied using a Syrian hamster pancreatic tumor model (HapT1) infused with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). Using the oncolytic virus instead of lymphodepletion resulted in superior efficacy and survival. Immune cells responsive to TNF-α IL-2 were studied using an immunocompetent mouse melanoma model (B16.OVA) infused with ovalbumin-specific T (OT-I) cells. Here, the adenovirus approach improved tumor control together with increased intratumoral Th1 cytokine levels and infiltration of CD8+ T cells and CD86+ dendritic cells. Similar to humans, lymphodepleting preconditioning caused severe cytopenias, systemic inflammation, and damage to vital organs. Toxicity was minimal in adenovirus- and OT-I-treated mice. These findings demonstrate that ACT can be effectively facilitated by cytokine-coding adenovirus without requiring lymphodepletion, a rationale being clinically investigated.
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21
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Hemminki O, Oksanen M, Taipale K, Liikanen I, Koski A, Joensuu T, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. Oncograms Visualize Factors Influencing Long-Term Survival of Cancer Patients Treated with Adenoviral Oncolytic Immunotherapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 9:41-50. [PMID: 29989063 PMCID: PMC6035494 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- and EMA-approved oncolytic virus has been available since 2015. However, there are no markers available that would predict benefit for the individual patient. During 2007–2012, we treated 290 patients with advanced chemotherapy-refractory cancers, using 10 different oncolytic adenoviruses. Treatments were given in a Finnish Medicines Agency (FIMEA)-regulated individualized patient treatment program (the Advanced Therapy Access Program [ATAP]), which required long-term follow-up of patients, which is presented here. Focusing on the longest surviving patients, some key clinical and biological features are presented as “oncograms.” Some key attributes that could be captured in the oncogram are suggested to predict treatment response and survival after oncolytic adenovirus treatment. The oncogram includes immunological laboratory parameters assessed in peripheral blood (leukocytes, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, interleukin-8 [IL-8], HMGB1, anti-viral neutralizing antibody status), features of the patient (gender, performance status), tumor features (histological tumor type, tumor load, region of metastases), and oncolytic virus-specific features (arming of the virus). The retrospective approach used here facilitates verification in a prospective controlled trial setting. To our knowledge, the oncogram is the first holistic attempt to identify the patients most likely to benefit from adenoviral oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otto Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Minna Oksanen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kristian Taipale
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ilkka Liikanen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anniina Koski
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Neurosurgery, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Anna Kanerva
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Docrates Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd., Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Finland
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Cervera-Carrascon V, Siurala M, Santos JM, Havunen R, Tähtinen S, Karell P, Sorsa S, Kanerva A, Hemminki A. TNFa and IL-2 armed adenoviruses enable complete responses by anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1412902. [PMID: 29721366 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2017.1412902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2017] [Revised: 11/02/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Releasing the patient's immune system against their own malignancy by the use of checkpoint inhibitors is delivering promising results. However, only a subset of patients currently benefit from them. One major limitation of these therapies relates to the inability of T cells to detect or penetrate into the tumor resulting in unresponsiveness to checkpoint inhibition. Virotherapy is an attractive tool for enabling checkpoint inhibitors as viruses are naturally recognized by innate defense elements which draws the attention of the immune system. Besides their intrinsic immune stimulating properties, the adenoviruses used here are armed to express tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFa) and interleukin-2 (IL-2). These cytokines result in immunological danger signaling and multiple appealing T-cell effects, including trafficking, activation and propagation. When these viruses were injected into B16.OVA melanoma tumors in animals concomitantly receiving programmed cell-death protein 1 (PD-1) blocking antibodies both tumor growth control (p < 0.0001) and overall survival (p < 0.01) were improved. In this set-up, the addition of adoptive cell therapy with OT-I lymphocytes did not increase efficacy further. When virus injections were initiated before antibody treatment in a prime-boost approach, 100% of tumors regressed completely and all mice survived. Viral expression of IL2 and TNFa altered the cytokine balance in the tumor microenvironment towards Th1 and increased the intratumoral proportion of CD8+ and conventional CD4+ T cells. These preclinical studies provide the rationale and schedule for a clinical trial where oncolytic adenovirus coding for TNFa and IL-2 (TILT-123) is used in melanoma patients receiving an anti-PD-1 antibody.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Cervera-Carrascon
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - M Siurala
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - J M Santos
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - R Havunen
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - S Tähtinen
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - P Karell
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM), University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - S Sorsa
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - A Kanerva
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
| | - A Hemminki
- TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Department of Oncology, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland.,Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki, Uusima, Finland
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