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Miao L, Fraefel C, Sia KC, Newman JP, Mohamed-Bashir SA, Ng WH, Lam PYP. The potential application of a transcriptionally regulated oncolytic herpes simplex virus for human cancer therapy. Br J Cancer 2014; 110:94-106. [PMID: 24196790 PMCID: PMC3887293 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2013.692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 10/03/2013] [Accepted: 10/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging studies have shown the potential benefit of arming oncolytic viruses with therapeutic genes. However, most of these therapeutic genes are placed under the regulation of ubiquitous viral promoters. Our goal is to generate a safer yet potent oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) for cancer therapy. METHODS Using bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) recombineering, a cell cycle-regulatable luciferase transgene cassette was replaced with the infected cell protein 6 (ICP6) coding region (encoded for UL39 or large subunit of ribonucleotide reductase) of the HSV-1 genome. These recombinant viruses, YE-PC8, were further tested for its proliferation-dependent luciferase gene expression. RESULTS The ability of YE-PC8 to confer proliferation-dependent transgene expression was demonstrated by injecting similar amount of viruses into the tumour-bearing region of the brain and the contralateral normal brain parenchyma of the same mouse. The results showed enhanced levels of luciferase activities in the tumour region but not in the normal brain parenchyma. Similar findings were observed in YE-PC8-infected short-term human brain patient-derived glioma cells compared with normal human astrocytes. intratumoural injection of YE-PC8 viruses resulted in 77% and 80% of tumour regression in human glioma and human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts, respectively. CONCLUSION YE-PC8 viruses confer tumour selectivity in proliferating cells and may be developed further as a feasible approach to treat human cancers.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Brain Neoplasms/genetics
- Brain Neoplasms/therapy
- Brain Neoplasms/virology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/therapy
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/virology
- Cell Cycle/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Female
- Glioma/genetics
- Glioma/therapy
- Glioma/virology
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/genetics
- Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/therapy
- Liver Neoplasms/virology
- Luciferases/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Nude
- Mice, SCID
- Oncolytic Virotherapy/methods
- Regulatory Elements, Transcriptional
- Transcription, Genetic
- Transgenes
- Vero Cells
- Viral Proteins/genetics
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- L Miao
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - C Fraefel
- Institute of Virology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - K C Sia
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - J P Newman
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - S A Mohamed-Bashir
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore
| | - W H Ng
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, Singapore 308433, Singapore
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - P Y P Lam
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore
- Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117597, Singapore
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Sia KC, Huynh H, Chung AYF, Ooi LLPJ, Lim KH, Hui KM, Lam PYP. Preclinical evaluation of transcriptional targeting strategy for human hepatocellular carcinoma in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Mol Cancer Ther 2013; 12:1651-64. [PMID: 23720769 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene regulation of many key cell-cycle players in S-, G(2) phase, and mitosis results from transcriptional repression in their respective promoter regions during the G(0) and G(1) phases of cell cycle. Within these promoter regions are phylogenetically conserved sequences known as the cell-cycle-dependent element (CDE) and cell-cycle genes homology regions (CHR) sites. Thus, we hypothesize that transcriptional regulation of cell-cycle regulation via the CDE/CHR region together with liver-specific apolipoprotein E (apoE)-hAAT promoter could bring about a selective transgene expression in proliferating human hepatocellular carcinoma. We show that the newly generated vector AH-6CC-L2C could mediate hepatocyte-targeted luciferase gene expression in tumor cells and freshly isolated short-term hepatocellular carcinoma cultures from patient biopsy. In contrast, normal murine and human hepatocytes infected with AH-6CC-L2C expressed minimal or low luciferase activities. In the presence of prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), AH-6CC-L2C effectively suppressed the growth of orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma patient-derived xenograft mouse model via the expression of yeast cytosine deaminase (yCD) that converts 5-FC to anticancer metabolite 5-fluoruracil. More importantly, we show that combination treatment of AH-6CC-L2C with an EZH2 inhibitor, DZNep, that targets EpCAM-positive hepatocellular carcinoma, can bring about a greater therapeutic efficacy compared with a single treatment of virus or inhibitor. Our study showed that targeting proliferating human hepatocellular carcinoma cells through the transcriptional control of therapeutic gene could represent a feasible approach against hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kian Chuan Sia
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, National Cancer Center, Singapore
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Ho IA, Ng WH, Lam PY. FasL and FADD delivery by a glioma-specific and cell cycle-dependent HSV-1 amplicon virus enhanced apoptosis in primary human brain tumors. Mol Cancer 2010; 9:270. [PMID: 20942909 PMCID: PMC2964619 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-9-270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2010] [Accepted: 10/13/2010] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant cancer of the brain and is notoriously difficult to treat due to the highly proliferative and infiltrative nature of the cells. Herein, we explored the combination treatment of pre-established human glioma xenograft using multiple therapeutic genes whereby the gene expression is regulated by both cell-type and cell cycle-dependent transcriptional regulatory mechanism conferred by recombinant HSV-1 amplicon vectors. RESULTS We demonstrated for the first time that Ki67-positive proliferating primary human glioma cells cultured from biopsy samples were effectively induced into cell death by the dual-specific function of the pG8-FasL amplicon vectors. These vectors were relatively stable and exhibited minimal cytotoxicity in vivo. Intracranial implantation of pre-transduced glioma cells resulted in better survival outcome when compared with viral vectors inoculated one week post-implantation of tumor cells, indicating that therapeutic efficacy is dependent on the viral spread and mode of viral vectors administration. We further showed that pG8-FasL amplicon vectors are functional in the presence of commonly used treatment regimens for human brain cancer. In fact, the combined therapies of pG8-FasL and pG8-FADD in the presence of temozolomide significantly improved the survival of mice bearing intracranial high-grade gliomas. CONCLUSION Taken together, our results showed that the glioma-specific and cell cycle-dependent HSV-1 amplicon vector is potentially useful as an adjuvant therapy to complement the current gene therapy strategy for gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivy A Ho
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, 169610 Singapore
| | - Wai H Ng
- Department of Neurosurgery, National Neuroscience Institute, 308433 Singapore
| | - Paula Y Lam
- Laboratory of Cancer Gene Therapy, Cellular and Molecular Research Division, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research, National Cancer Centre, 169610 Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 117597 Singapore
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 169547 Singapore
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Marconi P, Argnani R, Epstein AL, Manservigi R. HSV as a vector in vaccine development and gene therapy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2010; 655:118-44. [PMID: 20047039 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1132-2_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The very deep knowledge acquired on the genetics and molecular biology of herpes simplex virus (HSV), major human pathogen whose lifestyle is based on a long-term dual interaction with the infected host characterized by the existence of lytic and latent infections, has allowed the development of potential vectors for several applications in human healthcare. These include delivery and expression of human genes to cells of the nervous system, selective destruction of cancer cells, prophylaxis against infection with HSV or other infectious diseases and targeted infection of specific tissues or organs. Three different classes of vectors can be derived from HSV-1: replication-competent attenuated vectors, replication-incompetent recombinant vectors and defective helper-dependent vectors known as amplicons. This chapter highlights the current knowledge concerning design, construction and recent applications, as well as the potential and current limitations of the three different classes of HSV-1-based vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peggy Marconi
- Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine-Section of Microbiology, University of Ferrara, Via Luigi Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44100, Italy.
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Prabhakar S, Brenner GJ, Sung B, Messerli SM, Mao J, Sena-Esteves M, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Tannous B, Breakefield XO. Imaging and therapy of experimental schwannomas using HSV amplicon vector-encoding apoptotic protein under Schwann cell promoter. Cancer Gene Ther 2010; 17:266-74. [PMID: 19834516 PMCID: PMC2857743 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2009.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2009] [Revised: 07/04/2009] [Accepted: 09/04/2009] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Schwannomas are benign tumors forming along peripheral nerves that can cause deafness, pain and paralysis. Current treatment involves surgical resection, which can damage associated nerves. To achieve tumor regression without damage to nerve fibers, we generated an HSV amplicon vector in which the apoptosis-inducing enzyme, caspase-1 (ICE), was placed under the Schwann cell-specific P0 promoter. Infection of schwannoma, neuroblastoma and fibroblastic cells in culture with ICE under the P0 promoter showed selective toxicity to schwannoma cells, while ICE under a constitutive promoter was toxic to all cell types. After direct intratumoral injection of the P0-ICE amplicon vector, we achieved marked regression of schwannoma tumors in an experimental xenograft mouse model. Injection of this amplicon vector into the sciatic nerve produced no apparent injury to the associated dorsal root ganglia neurons or myelinated nerve fibers. The P0-ICE amplicon vector provides a potential means of 'knifeless resection' of schwannoma tumors by injection of the vector into the tumor with low risk of damage to associated nerve fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Prabhakar
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - GJ Brenner
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anaesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - B Sung
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Pain Research Group, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - SM Messerli
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - J Mao
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Pain Research Group, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - M Sena-Esteves
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Program in Neuroscience, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - B Tannous
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - XO Breakefield
- Neuroscience Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Radiology, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Progress and prospects: biological properties and technological advances of herpes simplex virus type 1-based amplicon vectors. Gene Ther 2009; 16:709-15. [PMID: 19369969 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The last two years have seen significant advances in our understanding of the cellular innate responses elicited or activated by the entry of amplicon particles, which may, in part, explain the transient nature of transgene expression often observed in cells infected with helper-free amplicon stocks. At the technological level, the most consistent progress has been in strategies to enhance the stability of transgene cassettes, either through integration into host chromosomes or through the conversion of the amplicon genome into a replication-competent extrachromosomal element.
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Hui KM. Human hepatocellular carcinoma: expression profiles-based molecular interpretations and clinical applications. Cancer Lett 2008; 286:96-102. [PMID: 19095350 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2008.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 11/04/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for over 85% of all primary liver cancers. The clinical management of advanced and metastatic HCC is challenging on many counts. Besides largely occurs within a background of underlying chronic liver disease and cirrhosis, HCC is a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous polyclonal disease and resistant to most conventional chemotherapy. Early manifestation of HCC is characteristically slow growing with few symptoms, and HCC is therefore often diagnosed at an advanced stage when potentially curative surgical or local ablative therapy is not feasible. In this review, I have summarized my presentation at the recent HCC workshop at IARC, Lyon, on our knowledge generated from comprehensive molecular studies of primary liver cancer tissues and attempt to translate these results to gain molecular insights, especially on identification of biomarkers that could confer pathological and functional changes associated with the pathogenesis and progression of HCC, hoping to provide important molecular basis for the development of novel diagnosis and treatments to alter clinical outcomes of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kam M Hui
- Bek Chai Heah Laboratory of Cancer Genomics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Research, Humphrey Oei Institute of Cancer Research National Cancer Centre, 11 Hospital Drive, Singapore 169610, Singapore.
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