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Thoidingjam S, Sriramulu S, Freytag S, Brown SL, Kim JH, Chetty IJ, Siddiqui F, Movsas B, Nyati S. Oncolytic virus-based suicide gene therapy for cancer treatment: a perspective of the clinical trials conducted at Henry Ford Health. TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE COMMUNICATIONS 2023; 8:11. [PMID: 37065938 PMCID: PMC10088621 DOI: 10.1186/s41231-023-00144-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy manipulates or modifies a gene that provides a new cellular function to treat or correct a pathological condition, such as cancer. The approach of using gene manipulation to modify patient's cells to improve cancer therapy and potentially find a cure is gaining popularity. Currently, there are 12 gene therapy products approved by US-FDA, EMA and CFDA for cancer management, these include Rexin-G, Gendicine, Oncorine, Provange among other. The Radiation Biology Research group at Henry Ford Health has been actively developing gene therapy approaches for improving clinical outcome in cancer patients. The team was the first to test a replication-competent oncolytic virus armed with a therapeutic gene in humans, to combine this approach with radiation in humans, and to image replication-competent adenoviral gene expression/activity in humans. The adenoviral gene therapy products developed at Henry Ford Health have been evaluated in more than 6 preclinical studies and evaluated in 9 investigator initiated clinical trials treating more than100 patients. Two phase I clinical trials are currently following patients long term and a phase I trial for recurrent glioma was initiated in November 2022. This systematic review provides an overview of gene therapy approaches and products employed for treating cancer patients including the products developed at Henry Ford Health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shivani Thoidingjam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Sushmitha Sriramulu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Svend Freytag
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Stephen L. Brown
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Jae Ho Kim
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Indrin J. Chetty
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Farzan Siddiqui
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
| | - Benjamin Movsas
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
| | - Shyam Nyati
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, 1 Ford Place, 5D-42, Detroit, MI 48202 USA
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 USA
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Meng Y, Liu H, Bian N, Gong J, Zhong X, Huang C, Liang W, Xu H. In vitro study on human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells transfected with lentivirus-mediated hNIS-EGFP dual reporter gene and co-labeled with superparamagnetic iron oxide. Exp Ther Med 2018; 16:2208-2218. [PMID: 30186460 PMCID: PMC6122337 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2018.6505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to establish a stem cell line for multi-mode imaging (in vivo fluorescence imaging, magnetic resonance imaging and 99mTc single-photon emission computed tomography) and to study the biological activity, stemness, proliferative activity and differentiation ability of superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO), human sodium/iodide symporter (hNIS) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) co-labeled human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs). The EGFP reporter gene was selected to indirectly reflect the expression of target gene hNIS, and hUCMSCs were re-transfected with the successfully constructed recombinant plasmid pCMV-NIS-EF1-GFP-PGK-puro. When a stem cell line stably expressing hNIS and EGFP was obtained, the cells were incubated with 30 µg/ml SPIO to obtain hNIS, EGFP and SPIO co-labeled stem cells. The protein expressions of hNIS and EGFP were identified using western blot analysis, and the protein function of hNIS was identified by 125I influx and 125I efflux experiments. hNIS-EGFP-hUCMSCs were labeled with SPIO under the mediation of poly-L-lysine, and SPIO, hNIS and EGFP co-labeled hUCMSCs were established successfully. Staining with Prussian blue confirmed that 98% of cells were successfully labeled with SPIO. Western blotting results demonstrated positive hNIS and EGFP protein expression levels, and 125I influx and 125I efflux experiments confirmed that the protein function of hUCMSCs after expressing hNIS was normal. The uptake of 125I was higher in cell lines hNIS-EGFP-hUCMSCs than in control hUCMSCs (fold change: 16.43±2.30 times; P<0.05). The stemness of hNIS-EGFP-hUCMSCs was found to be slightly decreased but not statistically significant; the overall characteristics of stem cells remained unchanged. The assessments of adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation suggest that hNIS-EGFP-hUCMSCs have no significantly different characteristics compared with primary hUCMSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Meng
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Huanhuan Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Ning Bian
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Jian Gong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Xing Zhong
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Chunrong Huang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Wenxue Liang
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Nephrology, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, The First Hospital Affiliated to Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, P.R. China
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Volpe A, Man F, Lim L, Khoshnevisan A, Blower J, Blower PJ, Fruhwirth GO. Radionuclide-fluorescence Reporter Gene Imaging to Track Tumor Progression in Rodent Tumor Models. J Vis Exp 2018:57088. [PMID: 29608157 PMCID: PMC5931757 DOI: 10.3791/57088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is responsible for most cancer deaths. Despite extensive research, the mechanistic understanding of the complex processes governing metastasis remains incomplete. In vivo models are paramount for metastasis research, but require refinement. Tracking spontaneous metastasis by non-invasive in vivo imaging is now possible, but remains challenging as it requires long-time observation and high sensitivity. We describe a longitudinal combined radionuclide and fluorescence whole-body in vivo imaging approach for tracking tumor progression and spontaneous metastasis. This reporter gene methodology employs the sodium iodide symporter (NIS) fused to a fluorescent protein (FP). Cancer cells are engineered to stably express NIS-FP followed by selection based on fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Corresponding tumor models are established in mice. NIS-FP expressing cancer cells are tracked non-invasively in vivo at the whole-body level by positron emission tomography (PET) using the NIS radiotracer [18F]BF4-. PET is currently the most sensitive in vivo imaging technology available at this scale and enables reliable and absolute quantification. Current methods either rely on large cohorts of animals that are euthanized for metastasis assessment at varying time points, or rely on barely quantifiable 2D imaging. The advantages of the described method are: (i) highly sensitive non-invasive in vivo 3D PET imaging and quantification, (ii) automated PET tracer production, (iii) a significant reduction in required animal numbers due to repeat imaging options, (iv) the acquisition of paired data from subsequent imaging sessions providing better statistical data, and (v) the intrinsic option for ex vivo confirmation of cancer cells in tissues by fluorescence microscopy or cytometry. In this protocol, we describe all steps required for routine NIS-FP-afforded non-invasive in vivo cancer cell tracking using PET/CT and ex vivo confirmation of in vivo results. This protocol has applications beyond cancer research whenever in vivo localization, expansion and long-time monitoring of a cell population is of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Volpe
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Francis Man
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Lindsay Lim
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Alex Khoshnevisan
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Julia Blower
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Philip J Blower
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London
| | - Gilbert O Fruhwirth
- Department of Imaging Chemistry and Biology, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London;
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Garg H, Joshi A. Conditional Cytotoxic Anti-HIV Gene Therapy for Selectable Cell Modification. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 27:400-15. [PMID: 26800572 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy remains one of the potential strategies to achieve a cure for HIV infection. One of the major limitations of anti-HIV gene therapy concerns recovering an adequate number of modified cells to generate an HIV-proof immune system. Our study addresses this issue by developing a methodology that can mark conditional vector-transformed cells for selection and subsequently target HIV-infected cells for elimination by treatment with ganciclovir (GCV). We used the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) mutant SR39, which is highly potent at killing cells at low GCV concentrations. This gene was cloned into a conditional HIV vector, pNL-GFPRRESA, which expresses the gene of interest as well as green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the presence of HIV Tat protein. We show here that TK-SR39 was more potent that wild-type TK (TK-WT) at eliminating infected cells at lower concentrations of GCV. As the vector expresses GFP in the presence of Tat, transient expression of Tat either by Tat RNA transfection or transduction by a nonintegrating lentiviral (NIL) vector marked the cells with GFP for selection. In cells selected by this strategy, TK-SR39 was more potent at limiting virus replication than TK-WT. Finally, in Jurkat cells modified and selected by this approach, infection with CXCR4-tropic Lai virus could be suppressed by treatment with GCV. GCV treatment limited the number of HIV-infected cells, virus production, as well as virus-induced cytopathic effects in this model. We provide proof of principle that TK-SR39 in a conditional HIV vector can provide a safe and effective anti-HIV strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Garg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , El Paso, Texas
| | - Anjali Joshi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , El Paso, Texas
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Fruhwirth GO, Diocou S, Blower PJ, Ng T, Mullen G. A whole-body dual-modality radionuclide optical strategy for preclinical imaging of metastasis and heterogeneous treatment response in different microenvironments. J Nucl Med 2014; 55:686-94. [PMID: 24604910 PMCID: PMC6205625 DOI: 10.2967/jnumed.113.127480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Imaging spontaneous cancer cell metastasis or heterogeneous tumor responses to drug treatment in vivo is difficult to achieve. The goal was to develop a new highly sensitive and reliable preclinical longitudinal in vivo imaging model for this purpose, thereby facilitating discovery and validation of anticancer therapies or molecular imaging agents. METHODS The strategy is based on breast cancer cells stably expressing the human sodium iodide symporter (NIS) fused to a red fluorescent protein, thereby permitting radionuclide and fluorescence imaging. Using whole-body nano-SPECT/CT with (99m)TcO4(-), we followed primary tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis in the presence or absence of etoposide treatment. NIS imaging was used to classify organs as small as individual lymph nodes (LNs) to be positive or negative for metastasis, and results were confirmed by confocal fluorescence microscopy. Etoposide treatment efficacy was proven by ex vivo anticaspase 3 staining and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS In this preclinical model, we found that the NIS imaging strategy outperformed state-of-the-art (18)F-FDG imaging in its ability to detect small tumors (18.5-fold-better tumor-to-blood ratio) and metastases (LN, 3.6-fold) because of improved contrast in organs close to metastatic sites (12- and 8.5-fold-lower standardized uptake value in the heart and kidney, respectively). We applied the model to assess the treatment response to the neoadjuvant etoposide and found a consistent and reliable improvement in spontaneous metastasis detection. Importantly, we also found that tumor cells in different microenvironments responded in a heterogeneous manner to etoposide treatment, which could be determined only by the NIS-based strategy and not by (18)F-FDG imaging. CONCLUSION We developed a new strategy for preclinical longitudinal in vivo cancer cell tracking with greater sensitivity and reliability than (18)F-FDG PET and applied it to track spontaneous and distant metastasis in the presence or absence of genotoxic stress therapy. Importantly, the model provides sufficient sensitivity and dynamic range to permit the reliable assessment of heterogeneous treatment responses in various microenvironments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert O. Fruhwirth
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, King's College London (KCL) & UCL
- The Richard Dimbleby Department of Cancer Research, KCL, London SE1 1UL
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, St.Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH
| | - Seckou Diocou
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, King's College London (KCL) & UCL
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, St.Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH
| | - Philip J. Blower
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, King's College London (KCL) & UCL
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, St.Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH
| | - Tony Ng
- Comprehensive Cancer Imaging Centre, King's College London (KCL) & UCL
- The Richard Dimbleby Department of Cancer Research, KCL, London SE1 1UL
| | - Greg Mullen
- Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, St.Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH
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Ventura M, Franssen GM, Oosterwijk E, Boerman OC, Jansen JA, Walboomers XF. SPECT vs. PET monitoring of bone defect healing and biomaterial performancein vivo. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2014; 10:843-854. [DOI: 10.1002/term.1862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 07/09/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Ventura
- Department of Biomaterials; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Gerben M. Franssen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Egbert Oosterwijk
- Department of Urology; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - Otto C. Boerman
- Department of Nuclear Medicine; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - John A. Jansen
- Department of Biomaterials; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
| | - X. Frank Walboomers
- Department of Biomaterials; Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre; Nijmegen the Netherlands
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Dmitriev IP, Kashentseva EA, Kim KH, Matthews QL, Krieger SS, Parry JJ, Nguyen KN, Akers WJ, Achilefu S, Rogers BE, Alvarez RD, Curiel DT. Monitoring of biodistribution and persistence of conditionally replicative adenovirus in a murine model of ovarian cancer using capsid-incorporated mCherry and expression of human somatostatin receptor subtype 2 gene. Mol Imaging 2014; 13:7290.2014.00024. [PMID: 25249483 DOI: 10.2310/7290.2014.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A significant limiting factor to the human clinical application of conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd)-based virotherapy is the inability to noninvasively monitor these agents and their potential persistence. To address this issue, we proposed a novel imaging approach that combines transient expression of the human somatostatin receptor (SSTR) subtype 2 reporter gene with genetic labeling of the viral capsid with mCherry fluorescent protein. To test this dual modality system, we constructed the Ad5/3Δ24pIXcherry/SSTR CRAd and validated its capacity to generate fluorescent and nuclear signals in vitro and following intratumoral injection. Analysis of 64Cu-CB-TE2A-Y3-TATE biodistribution in mice revealed reduced uptake in tumors injected with the imaging CRAd relative to the replication-incompetent, Ad-expressing SSTR2 but significantly greater uptake compared to the negative CRAd control. Optical imaging demonstrated relative correlation of fluorescent signal with virus replication as determined by viral genome quantification in tumors. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography studies demonstrated that we can visualize radioactive uptake in tumors injected with imaging CRAd and the trend for greater uptake by standardized uptake value analysis compared to control CRAd. In the aggregate, the plasticity of our dual imaging approach should provide the technical basis for monitoring CRAd biodistribution and persistence in preclinical studies while offering potential utility for a range of clinical applications.
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Trujillo MA, Oneal MJ, McDonough S, Qin R, Morris JC. A steep radioiodine dose response scalable to humans in sodium-iodide symporter (NIS)-mediated radiovirotherapy for prostate cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2012; 19:839-44. [PMID: 23037808 PMCID: PMC3499676 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2012.68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) directs the uptake and concentration of iodide in thyroid cells. We have extended the use of NIS-mediated radioiodine therapy to prostate cancer. We have developed a prostate tumor specific conditionally replicating adenovirus (CRAd) that expresses hNIS (Ad5PB_RSV-NIS). For radiovirotherapy to be effective in humans, the radioiodine dose administered in the pre-clinical animal model should scale to the range of acceptable doses in humans. We performed 131I dose-response experiments aiming to determine the dose required in mice to achieve efficient radiovirotherapy. Efficacy was determined by measuring tumor growth and survival times. We observed that individual tumors display disparate growth rates which preclude averaging within a treatment modality indicating heterogeneity of growth rate. We further show that a statistic and stochastic approach must be used when comparing the effect of an anti-cancer therapy on a cohort of tumors. Radiovirotherapy improves therapeutic value over virotherapy alone by slowing the rate of tumor growth in a more substantial manner leading to an increase in survival time. We also show that the radioiodine doses needed to achieve this increase scaled well within the current doses used for treatment of thyroid cancer in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Trujillo
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism, Nutrition, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Penheiter AR, Russell SJ, Carlson SK. The sodium iodide symporter (NIS) as an imaging reporter for gene, viral, and cell-based therapies. Curr Gene Ther 2012; 12:33-47. [PMID: 22263922 PMCID: PMC3367315 DOI: 10.2174/156652312799789235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2011] [Revised: 01/04/2012] [Accepted: 01/06/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical tomographic imaging systems increasingly are being utilized for non-invasive imaging of reporter gene products to reveal the distribution of molecular therapeutics within living subjects. Reporter gene and probe combinations can be employed to monitor vectors for gene, viral, and cell-based therapies. There are several reporter systems available; however, those employing radionuclides for positron emission tomography (PET) or singlephoton emission computed tomography (SPECT) offer the highest sensitivity and the greatest promise for deep tissue imaging in humans. Within the category of radionuclide reporters, the thyroidal sodium iodide symporter (NIS) has emerged as one of the most promising for preclinical and translational research. NIS has been incorporated into a remarkable variety of viral and non-viral vectors in which its functionality is conveniently determined by in vitro iodide uptake assays prior to live animal imaging. This review on the NIS reporter will focus on 1) differences between endogenous NIS and heterologously-expressed NIS, 2) qualitative or comparative use of NIS as an imaging reporter in preclinical and translational gene therapy, oncolytic viral therapy, and cell trafficking research, and 3) use of NIS as an absolute quantitative reporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan R Penheiter
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Richard-Fiardo P, Franken PR, Lamit A, Marsault R, Guglielmi J, Cambien B, Graslin F, Lindenthal S, Darcourt J, Pourcher T, Vassaux G. Normalisation to blood activity is required for the accurate quantification of Na/I symporter ectopic expression by SPECT/CT in individual subjects. PLoS One 2012; 7:e34086. [PMID: 22470517 PMCID: PMC3309932 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0034086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2011] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The utilisation of the Na/I symporter (NIS) and associated radiotracers as a reporter system for imaging gene expression is now reaching the clinical setting in cancer gene therapy applications. However, a formal assessment of the methodology in terms of normalisation of the data still remains to be performed, particularly in the context of the assessment of activities in individual subjects in longitudinal studies. In this context, we administered to mice a recombinant, replication-incompetent adenovirus encoding rat NIS, or a human colorectal carcinoma cell line (HT29) encoding mouse NIS. We used (99m)Tc pertechnetate as a radiotracer for SPECT/CT imaging to determine the pattern of ectopic NIS expression in longitudinal kinetic studies. Some animals of the cohort were culled and NIS expression was measured by quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. The radioactive content of some liver biopsies was also measured ex vivo. Our results show that in longitudinal studies involving datasets taken from individual mice, the presentation of non-normalised data (activity expressed as %ID/g or %ID/cc) leads to 'noisy', and sometimes incoherent, results. This variability is due to the fact that the blood pertechnetate concentration can vary up to three-fold from day to day. Normalisation of these data with blood activities corrects for these inconsistencies. We advocate that, blood pertechnetate activity should be determined and used to normalise the activity measured in the organ/region of interest that expresses NIS ectopically. Considering that NIS imaging has already reached the clinical setting in the context of cancer gene therapy, this normalisation may be essential in order to obtain accurate and predictive information in future longitudinal clinical studies in biotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Richard-Fiardo
- INSERM U948, Biothérapies Hépatiques, CHU Hôtel Dieu, Nantes, France
- CHU de Nantes, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Nantes, France
| | - Philippe R. Franken
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Audrey Lamit
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Robert Marsault
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Julien Guglielmi
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Béatrice Cambien
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Fanny Graslin
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Sabine Lindenthal
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Jacques Darcourt
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Thierry Pourcher
- Centre Antoine Lacassagne, Nice, France
- Faculté de Médecine, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
- Laboratoire TIRO, UMRE 4320, iBEB, DSV, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique, Nice, France
| | - Georges Vassaux
- INSERM U948, Biothérapies Hépatiques, CHU Hôtel Dieu, Nantes, France
- CHU de Nantes, Institut des Maladies de l'Appareil Digestif, Nantes, France
- * E-mail:
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Ottolino-Perry K, Diallo JS, Lichty BD, Bell JC, McCart JA. Intelligent design: combination therapy with oncolytic viruses. Mol Ther 2009; 18:251-63. [PMID: 20029399 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Metastatic cancer remains an incurable disease in the majority of cases and thus novel treatment strategies such as oncolytic virotherapy are rapidly advancing toward clinical use. In order to be successful, it is likely that some type of combination therapy will be necessary to have a meaningful impact on this disease. Although it may be tempting to simply combine an oncolytic virus with the existing standard radiation or chemotherapeutics, the long-term goal of such treatments must be to have a rational, potentially synergistic combination strategy that can be safely and easily used in the clinical setting. The combination of oncolytic virotherapy with existing radiotherapy and chemotherapy modalities is reviewed along with novel biologic therapies including immunotherapies, in order to help investigators make intelligent decisions during the clinical development of these products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Ottolino-Perry
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Toronto General Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Aung W, Hasegawa S, Koshikawa-Yano M, Obata T, Ikehira H, Furukawa T, Aoki I, Saga T. Visualization of in vivo electroporation-mediated transgene expression in experimental tumors by optical and magnetic resonance imaging. Gene Ther 2009; 16:830-9. [PMID: 19458649 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2008] [Revised: 01/06/2009] [Accepted: 01/06/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In vivo electroporation (EP) is an efficient method for effective gene transfer and is highly expected for application in anticancer gene therapy. Non-invasive monitoring of gene transfer/expression is critical for optimal gene therapy. Here we report in vivo optical and high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of EP-mediated transgene expression in a tumor model. Initially, we observed spatio-temporal change in in vivo EP-mediated transgene expression by optical imaging using red fluorescence protein (RFP) as a reporter gene. Next, we constructed a dual-reporter plasmid carrying a gene-encoding MRI reporter ferritin heavy chain and RFP gene to visualize the intratumoral transgene expression by dual modality. Cells transfected with this plasmid showed lower signal intensity on in vitro T(2)-weighted cellular MRI and quantitatively increased the transverse relaxation rate (1/T(2)) compared with control cells. After conducting in vivo EP in an experimental tumor, the plasmid-injected region showed both fluorescent emissions in optical imaging and detectably lowered signal on T(2)-weighted MRI. The correlative immunohistological findings confirmed that both the reporter transgenes were co-expressed in this region. Thus, our strategy provides a platform for evaluating EP-mediated cancer gene therapy easily and safely without administering contrast agent or substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Aung
- Diagnostic Imaging Group, Molecular Imaging Center, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, Chiba, Japan
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13
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Pham L, Nakamura T, Gabriela Rosales A, Carlson SK, Bailey KR, Peng KW, Russell SJ. Concordant activity of transgene expression cassettes inserted into E1, E3 and E4 cloning sites in the adenovirus genome. J Gene Med 2009; 11:197-206. [PMID: 19140107 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Expression cassettes can be inserted at several positions into recombinant adenoviral genomes but the implications of this choice for transgene expression level have not been determined. Knowledge of the relative expression levels of transgenes inserted at different sites in the adenoviral genome is of particular significance for transgene expression monitoring approaches that rely on the concordant expression of a marker transgene inserted elsewhere in the viral genome. METHODS Three expression cassettes, each comprising a cytomegalovirus promoter driving one of three marker peptides [serum carcinoembryonic antigen (sCEA), beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (betahCG) or human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS)], were inserted into E1, E3 or E4 cloning sites in a recombinant adenoviral vector backbone. High titer stocks of bicistronic adenoviral vectors coding for combinations of marker peptides were prepared. A panel of human cells of various lineages was infected with the vectors and expression ratios of the transgene-encoded proteins were analysed. Serum levels of the soluble proteins and hepatic uptake of radioactive iodine were also compared in vivo in nude rats after intravenous vector infusion. RESULTS High concordance of expression between the inserted transgenes was observed in all of the bicistronic vectors irrespective of whether the expression cassettes were placed in the E1, E3 or E4 regions. Concordance was maintained across multiple cell lineages. In vivo, in athymic rats, blood and urine levels of betahCG were highly concordant with serum levels of sCEA at all timepoints after intravenous infusion of the bicistronic vectors encoding both of these soluble markers. Hepatic radioiodine uptake was concordant with serum CEA concentration in mice infused with a bicistronic vector expressing CEA and NIS. CONCLUSIONS The expression level of a given transgene in an adenoviral vector genome can be accurately and quantitatively inferred from the expression of a marker protein encoded by a second transgene inserted elsewhere in the vector genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linh Pham
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Valerie K, Graves PR. Strategies of Gene Transfer and Silencing, and Technical Considerations. THE IMPACT OF TUMOR BIOLOGY ON CANCER TREATMENT AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY STRATEGIES 2009. [PMCID: PMC7120147 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-74386-6_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Cancer gene therapy is a relatively new modality that might ultimately revolutionize oncology. The basic principle is to alter the tumor genetically to enhance more traditional chemo- and radiation therapy schema. The last decade has seen tremendous progress and development of new technologies in the areas of vector delivery, tumor targeting, and numerous clever ways to increase tumor killing, including early attempts to modulate tumor gene expression by RNA interference. In recent years, attempts to image affected cells have also been part of these efforts. Many studies have proceeded to the preclinical stage and a fair number to early clinical testing with some showing encouraging results. However, real impact on patient survival remains to be seen. One major problem still to be overcome is the quantitative delivery of the vector into the tumor mass. The next decade is expected to resolve many of these technical issues and improve the treatment of patients. This chapter will discuss new technologies and provide a brief overview of the field.
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Phase I study of noninvasive imaging of adenovirus-mediated gene expression in the human prostate. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1761-9. [PMID: 18714306 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
To monitor noninvasively potentially therapeutic adenoviruses for cancer, we have developed a methodology based on the sodium iodide symporter (NIS). Men with clinically localized prostate cancer were administered an intraprostatic injection of a replication-competent adenovirus, Ad5-yCD/utTK(SR39)rep-hNIS, armed with two suicide genes and the NIS gene. NIS gene expression (GE) was imaged noninvasively by uptake of Na(99 m)TcO(4) in infected cells using single photon emission-computed tomography (SPECT). The investigational therapy was safe with 98% of the adverse events being grade 1 or 2. GE was detected in the prostate in seven of nine (78%) patients at 1 x 10(12) virus particles (vp) but not at 1 x 10(11) vp. Volume and total amount of GE was quantified by SPECT. Following injection of 1 x 10(12) vp in 1 cm(3), GE volume (GEV) increased to a mean of 6.6 cm(3), representing, on average, 18% of the total prostate volume. GEV and intensity peaked 1-2 days after the adenovirus injection and was detectable in the prostate up to 7 days. Whole-body imaging demonstrated intraprostatic gene expression, and there was no evidence of extraprostatic dissemination of the adenovirus by SPECT imaging. The results demonstrate that noninvasive imaging of adenovirus-mediated gene therapy in humans is feasible and safe.
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Cortesi R, Marastoni M, Tomatis R, Menegatti E, Esposito E, Nastruzzi C. Peptide-based cationic molecules for the production of positive charged liposomes and micelles. J Microencapsul 2008; 25:71-81. [PMID: 18246485 DOI: 10.1080/02652040701711403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
This paper describes the synthesis and the physico-chemical characterization of cationic peptides (CPs) for possible application as non-viral gene delivery systems. Particularly, the production of cationic liposomes and micelle solutions was considered. Liposomes were prepared by REV-phase and extrusion presenting an average diameter reflecting the pore size of the membrane used for the extrusion. After DNA complexation the mean diameter of complexes decreased by increasing the number of positive charges. The non-complexed liposome preparations showed a net positive zeta potential comprised between 17.8-30 mV. After adding Defibrotide (DFT) to liposomes (at a 1:4 +/- molar ratio) the zeta potential fell down to a net negative value indicating the formation of the ionic complex. Concerning micelles, before complexation it was not possible to measure their size by PCS. However, after DFT complexation the size of complexes highly increased. In addition, as previously seen for liposomes, before complexation, the five CPs solutions showed a positive zeta potential ranging from 10-17.8 mV, while after addition of DFT the zeta potential fell to negative values. Concerning toxicity studies, in general CP-liposomes displayed a lower toxicity towards K562 cells as compared to the corresponding CP-solution. Taking into account these results, the studied CPs could be efficiently used to obtain both cationic liposomes and micelles. Moreover they are able to complex DNA with different interaction strength, depending on the type of peptide-based cationic molecule used.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Cortesi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Farmaceutiche, Università di Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 19, Ferrara, Italy.
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Singh A, Massoud TF, Deroose C, Gambhir SS. Molecular imaging of reporter gene expression in prostate cancer: an overview. Semin Nucl Med 2008; 38:9-19. [PMID: 18096460 DOI: 10.1053/j.semnuclmed.2007.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer remains an important and growing health problem. Advances in imaging of prostate cancer may help to achieve earlier and more accurate diagnosis and treatment. We review the various strategies using reporter genes for molecular imaging of prostate cancer. These approaches are emerging as valuable tools for monitoring gene expression in laboratory animals and humans. Further development of more sensitive and selective reporters, combined with improvements in detection technology, will consolidate the position of reporter gene imaging as a versatile method for understanding of intracellular biological processes and the underlying molecular basis of prostate cancer, as well as potentially establishing a future role in the clinical management of patients afflicted with this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinav Singh
- Department of Radiology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Brown SL, Freytag SO, Barton KN, Flynn MJ, Peck DJ, Dragovic AF, Jin R, Yeni YN, Fyhrie DP, Les CM, Zhu G, Kolozsvary A, Pitchford WC, Nathanson SD, Fenstermacher JD, Kim JH. Reporter gene imaging using radiographic contrast from nonradioactive iodide sequestered by the sodium–iodide symporter. CONTRAST MEDIA & MOLECULAR IMAGING 2007; 2:240-7. [DOI: 10.1002/cmmi.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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