1
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Stergiopoulos GM, Iankov I, Galanis E. Personalizing Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy Approaches. Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:153-168. [PMID: 38150172 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00689-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Development of successful cancer therapeutics requires exploration of the differences in genetics, metabolism, and interactions with the immune system among malignant and normal cells. The clinical observation of spontaneous tumor regression following natural infection with microorganism has created the premise of their use as cancer therapeutics. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) originate from viruses with attenuated virulence in humans, well-characterized vaccine strains of known human pathogens, or engineered replication-deficient viral vectors. Their selectivity is based on receptor expression level and post entry restriction factors that favor replication in the tumor, while keeping the normal cells unharmed. Clinical trials have demonstrated a wide range of patient responses to virotherapy, with subgroups of patients significantly benefiting from OV administration. Tumor-specific gene signatures, including antiviral interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) expression profile, have demonstrated a strong correlation with tumor permissiveness to infection. Furthermore, the combination of OVs with immunotherapeutics, including anticancer vaccines and immune checkpoint inhibitors [ICIs, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4 and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T or CAR-NK cells], could synergistically improve the therapeutic outcome. Creating response prediction algorithms represents an important step for the transition to individualized immunovirotherapy approaches in the clinic. Integrative predictors could include tumor mutational burden (TMB), inflammatory gene signature, phenotype of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, tumor microenvironment (TME), and immune checkpoint receptor expression on both immune and target cells. Additionally, the gut microbiota has recently been recognized as a systemic immunomodulatory factor and could further be used in the optimization of individualized immunovirotherapy algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ianko Iankov
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
| | - Evanthia Galanis
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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2
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Rodriguez GM, Yakubovich E, Murshed H, Maranda V, Galpin KJ, Cudmore A, Hanna AMR, Macdonald E, Ramesh S, Garson K, Vanderhyden BC. NLRC5 overexpression in ovarian tumors remodels the tumor microenvironment and increases T-cell reactivity toward autologous tumor-associated antigens. Front Immunol 2024; 14:1295208. [PMID: 38235131 PMCID: PMC10791902 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1295208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epithelial ovarian cancer (OC) stands as one of the deadliest gynecologic malignancies, urgently necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Approximately 60% of ovarian tumors exhibit reduced expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I), intensifying immune evasion mechanisms and rendering immunotherapies ineffective. NOD-like receptor CARD domain containing 5 (NLRC5) transcriptionally regulates MHC I genes and many antigen presentation machinery components. We therefore explored the therapeutic potential of NLRC5 in OC. Methods We generated OC cells overexpressing NLRC5 to rescue MHC I expression and antigen presentation and then assessed their capability to respond to PD-L1 blockade and an infected cell vaccine. Results Analysis of microarray datasets revealed a correlation between elevated NLRC5 expression and extended survival in OC patients; however, NLRC5 was scarcely detected in the OC tumor microenvironment. OC cells overexpressing NLRC5 exhibited slower tumor growth and resulted in higher recruitment of leukocytes in the TME with lower CD4/CD8 T-cell ratios and increased activation of T cells. Immune cells from peripheral blood, spleen, and ascites from these mice displayed heightened activation and interferon-gamma production when exposed to autologous tumor-associated antigens. Finally, as a proof of concept, NLRC5 overexpression within an infected cell vaccine platform enhanced responses and prolonged survival in comparison with control groups when challenged with parental tumors. Discussion These findings provide a compelling rationale for utilizing NLRC5 overexpression in "cold" tumor models to enhance tumor susceptibility to T-cell recognition and elimination by boosting the presentation of endogenous tumor antigens. This approach holds promise for improving antitumoral immune responses in OC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galaxia M. Rodriguez
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Edward Yakubovich
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Humaira Murshed
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Vincent Maranda
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kristianne J.C. Galpin
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Alison Cudmore
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew M. R. Hanna
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Macdonald
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Shashankan Ramesh
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kenneth Garson
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Barbara C. Vanderhyden
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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3
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Abdulal RH, Malki JS, Ghazal E, Alsaieedi AA, Almahboub SA, Khan MY, Alsulaiman RM, Ghaith MM, Abujamel TS, Ganash M, Mahmoud AB, Alkayyal AA, Hashem AM. Construction of VSVΔ51M oncolytic virus expressing human interleukin-12. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1190669. [PMID: 37255540 PMCID: PMC10225647 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1190669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of oncolytic viruses (OVs) in combination with cytokines, such as IL-12, is a promising approach for cancer treatment that addresses the limitations of current standard treatments and traditional cancer immunotherapies. IL-12, a proinflammatory cytokine, triggers intracellular signaling pathways that lead to increased apoptosis of tumor cells and enhanced antitumor activity of immune cells via IFN-γ induction, making this cytokine a promising candidate for cancer therapy. Targeted expression of IL-12 within tumors has been shown to play a crucial role in tumor eradication. The recent development of oncolytic viruses enables targeted delivery and expression of IL-12 at the tumor site, thereby addressing the systemic toxicities associated with traditional cancer therapy. In this study, we constructed an oncolytic virus, VSVΔ51M, based on the commercially available VSV wild-type backbone and further modified it to express human IL-12. Our preclinical data confirmed the safety and limited toxicity of the modified virus, VSV-Δ51M-hIL-12, supporting its potential use for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rwaa H. Abdulal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jana S. Malki
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ezdehar Ghazal
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahdab A. Alsaieedi
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah A. Almahboub
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Yasir Khan
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem M. Alsulaiman
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mazen M. Ghaith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Turki S. Abujamel
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Magdah Ganash
- Department of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Bakur Mahmoud
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
- Strategic Research and Innovation Laboratories, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Almohanad A. Alkayyal
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar M. Hashem
- Vaccines and Immunotherapy Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Repeated dosing improves oncolytic rhabdovirus therapy in mice via interactions with intravascular monocytes. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1385. [PMID: 36536097 PMCID: PMC9761050 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04254-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There is debate in the field of oncolytic virus (OV) therapy, whether a single viral dose, or multiple administrations, is better for tumor control. Using intravital microscopy, we describe the fate of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) delivered systemically as a first or a second dose. Following primary administration, VSV binds to the endothelium, initiates tumor infection and activates a proinflammatory response. This initial OV dose induces neutrophil migration into the tumor and limits viral replication. OV administered as a second dose fails to infect the tumor and is captured by intravascular monocytes. Despite a lack of direct infection, this second viral dose, in a monocyte-dependent fashion, enhances and sustains infection by the first viral dose, promotes CD8 T cell recruitment, delays tumor growth and improves survival in multi-dosing OV therapy. Thus, repeated VSV dosing engages monocytes to post-condition the tumor microenvironment for improved infection and anticancer T cell responses. Understanding the complex interactions between the subsequent viral doses is crucial for improving the efficiency of OV therapy and virus-based vaccines.
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5
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Zhang Y, Nagalo BM. Immunovirotherapy Based on Recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis Virus: Where Are We? Front Immunol 2022; 13:898631. [PMID: 35837384 PMCID: PMC9273848 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.898631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a negative-strand RNA virus of the Vesiculovirus genus, has demonstrated encouraging anti-neoplastic activity across multiple human cancer types. VSV is particularly attractive as an oncolytic agent because of its broad tropism, fast replication kinetics, and amenability to genetic manipulations. Furthermore, VSV-induced oncolysis can elicit a potent antitumor cytotoxic T-cell response to viral proteins and tumor-associated antigens, resulting in a long-lasting antitumor effect. Because of this multifaceted immunomodulatory property, VSV was investigated extensively as an immunovirotherapy alone or combined with other anticancer modalities, such as immune checkpoint blockade. Despite these recent opportunities to delineate synergistic and additive antitumor effects with existing anticancer therapies, FDA approval for the use of oncolytic VSV in humans has not yet been granted. This mini-review discusses factors that have prompted the use of VSV as an immunovirotherapy in human cancers and provides insights into future perspectives and research areas to improve VSV-based oncotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuguo Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
| | - Bolni Marius Nagalo
- Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
- Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States
- *Correspondence: Bolni Marius Nagalo,
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6
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Kottke T, Tonne J, Evgin L, Driscoll CB, van Vloten J, Jennings VA, Huff AL, Zell B, Thompson JM, Wongthida P, Pulido J, Schuelke MR, Samson A, Selby P, Ilett E, McNiven M, Roberts LR, Borad MJ, Pandha H, Harrington K, Melcher A, Vile RG. Oncolytic virotherapy induced CSDE1 neo-antigenesis restricts VSV replication but can be targeted by immunotherapy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:1930. [PMID: 33772027 PMCID: PMC7997928 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22115-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In our clinical trials of oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus expressing interferon beta (VSV-IFNβ), several patients achieved initial responses followed by aggressive relapse. We show here that VSV-IFNβ-escape tumors predictably express a point-mutated CSDE1P5S form of the RNA-binding Cold Shock Domain-containing E1 protein, which promotes escape as an inhibitor of VSV replication by disrupting viral transcription. Given time, VSV-IFNβ evolves a compensatory mutation in the P/M Inter-Genic Region which rescues replication in CSDE1P5S cells. These data show that CSDE1 is a major cellular co-factor for VSV replication. However, CSDE1P5S also generates a neo-epitope recognized by non-tolerized T cells. We exploit this predictable neo-antigenesis to drive, and trap, tumors into an escape phenotype, which can be ambushed by vaccination against CSDE1P5S, preventing tumor escape. Combining frontline therapy with escape-targeting immunotherapy will be applicable across multiple therapies which drive tumor mutation/evolution and simultaneously generate novel, targetable immunopeptidomes associated with acquired treatment resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jason Tonne
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Jacob van Vloten
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Victoria A Jennings
- Chester Beatty Laboratories, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Amanda L Huff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Brady Zell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jill M Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Jose Pulido
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Adel Samson
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Peter Selby
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Elizabeth Ilett
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Mark McNiven
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lewis R Roberts
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Mitesh J Borad
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Kevin Harrington
- Chester Beatty Laboratories, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Alan Melcher
- Chester Beatty Laboratories, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Richard G Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
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7
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Parking CAR T Cells in Tumours: Oncolytic Viruses as Valets or Vandals? Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051106. [PMID: 33807553 PMCID: PMC7961585 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) and adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) each possess direct tumour cytolytic capabilities, and their combination potentially seems like a match made in heaven to complement the strengths and weakness of each modality. While providing strong innate immune stimulation that can mobilize adaptive responses, the magnitude of anti-tumour T cell priming induced by OVs is often modest. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cells bypass conventional T cell education through introduction of a synthetic receptor; however, realization of their full therapeutic properties can be stunted by the heavily immune-suppressive nature of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Oncolytic viruses have thus been seen as a natural ally to overcome immunosuppressive mechanisms in the TME which limit CAR T cell infiltration and functionality. Engineering has further endowed viruses with the ability to express transgenes in situ to relieve T cell tumour-intrinsic resistance mechanisms and decorate the tumour with antigen to overcome antigen heterogeneity or loss. Despite this helpful remodeling of the tumour microenvironment, it has simultaneously become clear that not all virus induced effects are favourable for CAR T, begging the question whether viruses act as valets ushering CAR T into their active site, or vandals which cause chaos leading to both tumour and T cell death. Herein, we summarize recent studies combining these two therapeutic modalities and seek to place them within the broader context of viral T cell immunology which will help to overcome the current limitations of effective CAR T therapy to make the most of combinatorial strategies.
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8
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Ayasoufi K, Pfaller CK, Evgin L, Khadka RH, Tritz ZP, Goddery EN, Fain CE, Yokanovich LT, Himes BT, Jin F, Zheng J, Schuelke MR, Hansen MJ, Tung W, Parney IF, Pease LR, Vile RG, Johnson AJ. Brain cancer induces systemic immunosuppression through release of non-steroid soluble mediators. Brain 2020; 143:3629-3652. [PMID: 33253355 PMCID: PMC7954397 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunosuppression of unknown aetiology is a hallmark feature of glioblastoma and is characterized by decreased CD4 T-cell counts and downregulation of major histocompatibility complex class II expression on peripheral blood monocytes in patients. This immunosuppression is a critical barrier to the successful development of immunotherapies for glioblastoma. We recapitulated the immunosuppression observed in glioblastoma patients in the C57BL/6 mouse and investigated the aetiology of low CD4 T-cell counts. We determined that thymic involution was a hallmark feature of immunosuppression in three distinct models of brain cancer, including mice harbouring GL261 glioma, B16 melanoma, and in a spontaneous model of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. In addition to thymic involution, we determined that tumour growth in the brain induced significant splenic involution, reductions in peripheral T cells, reduced MHC II expression on blood leucocytes, and a modest increase in bone marrow resident CD4 T cells. Using parabiosis we report that thymic involution, declines in peripheral T-cell counts, and reduced major histocompatibility complex class II expression levels were mediated through circulating blood-derived factors. Conversely, T-cell sequestration in the bone marrow was not governed through circulating factors. Serum isolated from glioma-bearing mice potently inhibited proliferation and functions of T cells both in vitro and in vivo. Interestingly, the factor responsible for immunosuppression in serum is non-steroidal and of high molecular weight. Through further analysis of neurological disease models, we determined that the immunosuppression was not unique to cancer itself, but rather occurs in response to brain injury. Non-cancerous acute neurological insults also induced significant thymic involution and rendered serum immunosuppressive. Both thymic involution and serum-derived immunosuppression were reversible upon clearance of brain insults. These findings demonstrate that brain cancers cause multifaceted immunosuppression and pinpoint circulating factors as a target of intervention to restore immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian K Pfaller
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Langen, Germany
| | - Laura Evgin
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Roman H Khadka
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Zachariah P Tritz
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Emma N Goddery
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Cori E Fain
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lila T Yokanovich
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Benjamin T Himes
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Neurologic Surgery, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Fang Jin
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jiaying Zheng
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Matthew R Schuelke
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Rochester, MN, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Wesley Tung
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ian F Parney
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Neurologic Surgery, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Larry R Pease
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Richard G Vile
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Aaron J Johnson
- Mayo Clinic Department of Immunology, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Molecular Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Department of Neurology, Rochester, MN, USA
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Lassa-VSV chimeric virus targets and destroys human and mouse ovarian cancer by direct oncolytic action and by initiating an anti-tumor response. Virology 2020; 555:44-55. [PMID: 33453650 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2020.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is the third most common female cancer, with poor survival in later stages of metastatic spread. We test a chimeric virus consisting of genes from Lassa and vesicular stomatitis viruses, LASV-VSV; the native VSV glycoprotein is replaced by the Lassa glycoprotein, greatly reducing neurotropism. Human ovarian cancer cells in immunocompromised nude mice were lethal in controls. Chemotherapeutic paclitaxel and cisplatin showed modest cancer inhibition and survival extension. In contrast, a single intraperitoneal injection of LASV-VSV selectively infected and killed ovarian cancer cells, generating long-term survival. Mice with human ovarian cancer cells in brain showed rapid deterioration; LASV-VSV microinjection into brain blocked cancer growth, and generated long-term survival. Treatment of immunocompetent mice with infected mouse ovarian cancer cells blocked growth of non-infected ovarian cancer cells peritoneally and in brain. These results suggest LASV-VSV is a viable candidate for further study and may be of use in the treatment of ovarian cancer.
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10
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Huff AL, Evgin L, Thompson J, Kottke T, Driscoll CB, Tonne J, Wongthida P, Schuelke M, Shim KG, Mer G, Ramirez-Alvarado M, Vile R. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Encoding a Destabilized Tumor Antigen Improves Activation of Anti-tumor T Cell Responses. Mol Ther 2020; 28:2540-2552. [PMID: 32877695 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancing the immunogenicity of tumor-associated antigens would represent a major advance for anti-tumor vaccination strategies. Here, we investigated structure-directed antigen destabilization as a strategy to improve the degradation, immunogenic epitope presentation, and T cell activation against a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-encoded tumor antigen. We used the crystal structure of the model antigen ovalbumin to identify charge-disrupting amino acid mutations that were predicted to decrease the stability of the protein. One mutation, OVA-C12R, significantly reduced the half-life of the protein and was preferentially degraded in a 26-S proteasomal-dependent manner. The destabilized ovalbumin protein exhibited enhanced presentation of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I immunogenic epitope, SIINFEKL, on the surface of B16F10 cells or murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) in vitro. Enhanced presentation correlated with better recognition by cognate CD8 OT-I T cells as measured by activation, proliferation, and effector cytokine production. Finally, VSV encoding the degradation-prone antigen was better able to prime an antigen ovalbumin-specific CD8 T cell response in vivo without altering the anti-viral CD8 T cell response. Our studies highlight that not only is the choice of antigen in cancer vaccines of importance, but that emphasis should be placed on modifying antigen quality to ensure optimal priming of anti-tumor responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Huff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jill Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Tim Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Christopher B Driscoll
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jason Tonne
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | | | - Kevin G Shim
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Georges Mer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Marina Ramirez-Alvarado
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Richard Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, St James's University Hospital, Beckett Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire LS9 7TF, UK.
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11
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Muscolini M, Tassone E, Hiscott J. Oncolytic Immunotherapy: Can't Start a Fire Without a Spark. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 56:94-101. [PMID: 32826166 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in cancer immunotherapy have renewed interest in oncolytic viruses (OVs) as a synergistic platform for the development of novel antitumor strategies. Cancer cells adopt multiple mechanisms to evade and suppress antitumor immune responses, essentially establishing a non-immunogenic ('cold') tumor microenvironment (TME), with poor T-cell infiltration and low mutational burden. Limitations to the efficacy of immunotherapy still exist, especially for a variety of solid tumors, where new approaches are necessary to overcome physical barriers in the TME and to mitigate adverse effects associated with current immunotherapeutics. OVs offer an attractive alternative by inducing direct oncolysis, immunogenic cell death, and immune stimulation. These multimodal mechanisms make OVs well suited to reprogram non-immunogenic tumors and TME into inflamed, immunogenic ('hot') tumors; enhanced release of tumor antigens by dying cancer cells is expected to augment T-cell infiltration, thereby eliciting potent antitumor immunity. Advances in virus engineering and understanding of tumor biology have allowed the optimization of OV-tumor selectivity, oncolytic potency, and immune stimulation. However, OV antitumor activity is likely to achieve its greatest potential as part of combinatorial strategies with other immune or cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evelyne Tassone
- Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
| | - John Hiscott
- Istituto Pasteur Italia - Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Rome, Italy
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12
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Munis AM, Bentley EM, Takeuchi Y. A tool with many applications: vesicular stomatitis virus in research and medicine. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 20:1187-1201. [PMID: 32602788 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2020.1787981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has long been a useful research tool in virology and recently become an essential part of medicinal products. Vesiculovirus research is growing quickly following its adaptation to clinical gene and cell therapy and oncolytic virotherapy. AREAS COVERED This article reviews the versatility of VSV as a research tool and biological reagent, its use as a viral and vaccine vector delivering therapeutic and immunogenic transgenes and an oncolytic virus aiding cancer treatment. Challenges such as the immune response against such advanced therapeutic medicinal products and manufacturing constraints are also discussed. EXPERT OPINION The field of in vivo gene and cell therapy is advancing rapidly with VSV used in many ways. Comparison of VSV's use as a versatile therapeutic reagent unveils further prospects and problems for each application. Overcoming immunological challenges to aid repeated administration of viral vectors and minimizing harmful host-vector interactions remains one of the major challenges. In the future, exploitation of reverse genetic tools may assist the creation of recombinant viral variants that have improved onco-selectivity and more efficient vaccine vector activity. This will add to the preferential features of VSV as an excellent advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altar M Munis
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford , Oxford, UK.,Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control , South Mimms, UK
| | - Emma M Bentley
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control , South Mimms, UK
| | - Yasuhiro Takeuchi
- Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control , South Mimms, UK.,Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London , London, UK
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13
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Abstract
New immuno-oncology therapies are improving cancer treatments beyond the former standard of care, as evidenced by the recent and continuing clinical approvals for immunotherapies in a broad range of indications. However, a majority of patients (particularly those with immunologically cold tumors) still do not benefit, highlighting the need for rational combination approaches. Oncolytic viruses (OV) both directly kill tumor cells and inflame the tumor microenvironment. While OV spread can be limited by the generation of antiviral immune responses, the initial local tumor cell killing can reverse the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, resulting in more effective release of tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), cross-presentation, and antitumoral effector T cell recruitment. Moreover, many OVs can be engineered to express immunomodulatory genes. Rational combination approaches to cancer immunotherapy include the use of OVs in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) or adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) to promote sustained antitumoral immune responses. OV combinations have additive or synergistic efficacy in preclinical tumor models with ICIs or ACT. Several preclinical studies have confirmed systemic reactivation and proliferation of adoptively transferred antitumoral T cells in conjunction with oncolytic OVs (expressing cytokines or TAAs) resulting from the specific tumor cell killing and immunostimulation of the tumor microenvironment which leads to increased tumor trafficking, activity, and survival. Recent clinical trials combining OVs with ICIs have shown additive effects in melanoma. Additional clinical data in an expanded range of patient indications are eagerly awaited. The relative timings of OV and ICI combination remains under-studied and is an area for continued exploration. Studies systematically exploring the effects of systemic ICIs prior to, concomitantly with, or following OV therapy will aid in the future design of clinical trials to enhance efficacy and increase patient response rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Russell
- Vyriad Inc., 3605 US Highway 52 N, Building 110, Rochester, MN, 55901, USA
| | - Kah Whye Peng
- Vyriad Inc., 3605 US Highway 52 N, Building 110, Rochester, MN, 55901, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Stephen J Russell
- Vyriad Inc., 3605 US Highway 52 N, Building 110, Rochester, MN, 55901, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Rosa Maria Diaz
- Vyriad Inc., 3605 US Highway 52 N, Building 110, Rochester, MN, 55901, USA.
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14
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Driscoll CB, Schuelke MR, Kottke T, Thompson JM, Wongthida P, Tonne JM, Huff AL, Miller A, Shim KG, Molan A, Wetmore C, Selby P, Samson A, Harrington K, Pandha H, Melcher A, Pulido JS, Harris R, Evgin L, Vile RG. APOBEC3B-mediated corruption of the tumor cell immunopeptidome induces heteroclitic neoepitopes for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Commun 2020; 11:790. [PMID: 32034147 PMCID: PMC7005822 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14568-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
APOBEC3B, an anti-viral cytidine deaminase which induces DNA mutations, has been implicated as a mediator of cancer evolution and therapeutic resistance. Mutational plasticity also drives generation of neoepitopes, which prime anti-tumor T cells. Here, we show that overexpression of APOBEC3B in tumors increases resistance to chemotherapy, but simultaneously heightens sensitivity to immune checkpoint blockade in a murine model of melanoma. However, in the vaccine setting, APOBEC3B-mediated mutations reproducibly generate heteroclitic neoepitopes in vaccine cells which activate de novo T cell responses. These cross react against parental, unmodified tumors and lead to a high rate of cures in both subcutaneous and intra-cranial tumor models. Heteroclitic Epitope Activated Therapy (HEAT) dispenses with the need to identify patient specific neoepitopes and tumor reactive T cells ex vivo. Thus, actively driving a high mutational load in tumor cell vaccines increases their immunogenicity to drive anti-tumor therapy in combination with immune checkpoint blockade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Driscoll
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Matthew R Schuelke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Timothy Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Jill M Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Jason M Tonne
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Amanda L Huff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Amber Miller
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kevin G Shim
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Amy Molan
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Cynthia Wetmore
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Phoenix Children's, Phoenix, AZ, 85016, USA
| | - Peter Selby
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP), Faculty of Medicine and Health, St James' University Hospital, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Adel Samson
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology (LICAP), Faculty of Medicine and Health, St James' University Hospital, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
| | - Kevin Harrington
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey, Guildford, GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Alan Melcher
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Jose S Pulido
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Reuben Harris
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology & Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Richard G Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Leeds Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, St James' University Hospital, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
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15
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Pol JG, Bridle BW, Lichty BD. Detection of Tumor Antigen-Specific T-Cell Responses After Oncolytic Vaccination. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2058:191-211. [PMID: 31486039 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9794-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic vaccines, which consist of recombinant oncolytic viruses (OV) encoding tumor-associated antigens (TAAs), have demonstrated potent antitumor efficacy in preclinical models and are currently evaluated in phase I/II clinical trials. On one hand, oncolysis of OV-infected malignant entities reinstates cancer immunosurveillance. On the other hand, overexpression of TAAs in infected cells further stimulates the adaptive arm of antitumor immunity. Particularly, the presence of tumor-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes within the tumor microenvironment, as well as in the periphery, has demonstrated prognostic value for cancer treatments. These effector CD8+ T cells can be detected through their production of the prototypical Tc1 cytokine: IFN-γ. The quantitative and qualitative assessment of this immune cell subset remains critical in the development process of efficient cancer vaccines, including oncolytic vaccines. The present chapter will describe a single-cell immunological assay, namely the intracellular cytokine staining (ICS), that allows the enumeration of IFN-γ-producing TAA-specific CD8+ T cells in various tissues (tumor, blood, lymphoid organs) following oncolytic vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Pol
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France. .,INSERM, U1138, Paris, France. .,Equipe 11 Labellisée par la Ligue Nationale Contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France. .,Université de Paris, Paris, France. .,Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
| | - Byram W Bridle
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Brian D Lichty
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada. .,Turnstone Biologics, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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16
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Schuelke MR, Wongthida P, Thompson J, Kottke T, Driscoll CB, Huff AL, Shim KG, Coffey M, Pulido J, Evgin L, Vile RG. Diverse immunotherapies can effectively treat syngeneic brainstem tumors in the absence of overt toxicity. J Immunother Cancer 2019; 7:188. [PMID: 31315671 PMCID: PMC6637625 DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0673-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy has shown remarkable clinical promise in the treatment of various types of cancers. However, clinical benefits derive from a highly inflammatory mechanism of action. This presents unique challenges for use in pediatric brainstem tumors including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), since treatment-related inflammation could cause catastrophic toxicity. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate whether inflammatory, immune-based therapies are likely to be too dangerous to pursue for the treatment of pediatric brainstem tumors. METHODS To complement previous immunotherapy studies using patient-derived xenografts in immunodeficient mice, we developed fully immunocompetent models of immunotherapy using transplantable, syngeneic tumors. These four models - HSVtk/GCV suicide gene immunotherapy, oncolytic viroimmunotherapy, adoptive T cell transfer, and CAR T cell therapy - have been optimized to treat tumors outside of the CNS and induce a broad spectrum of inflammatory profiles, maximizing the chances of observing brainstem toxicity. RESULTS All four models achieved anti-tumor efficacy in the absence of toxicity, with the exception of recombinant vaccinia virus expressing GMCSF, which demonstrated inflammatory toxicity. Histology, imaging, and flow cytometry confirmed the presence of brainstem inflammation in all models. Where used, the addition of immune checkpoint blockade did not introduce toxicity. CONCLUSIONS It remains imperative to regard the brainstem with caution for immunotherapeutic intervention. Nonetheless, we show that further careful development of immunotherapies for pediatric brainstem tumors is warranted to harness the potential potency of anti-tumor immune responses, despite their possible toxicity within this anatomically sensitive location.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Schuelke
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Jill Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Timothy Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | | | - Amanda L Huff
- Virology and Gene Therapy Track, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Kevin G Shim
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Matt Coffey
- Oncolytics Biotech, Inc., Calgary, AB, T2N 1X7, Canada
| | - Jose Pulido
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA
| | - Richard G Vile
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
- Leeds Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, St James' University Hospital, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK.
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17
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Harrington K, Freeman DJ, Kelly B, Harper J, Soria JC. Optimizing oncolytic virotherapy in cancer treatment. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 18:689-706. [PMID: 31292532 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0029-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 282] [Impact Index Per Article: 56.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the wake of the success of modern immunotherapy, oncolytic viruses (OVs) are currently seen as a potential therapeutic option for patients with cancer who do not respond or fail to achieve durable responses following treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. OVs offer a multifaceted therapeutic platform because they preferentially replicate in tumour cells, can be engineered to express transgenes that augment their cytotoxic and immunostimulatory activities, and modulate the tumour microenvironment to optimize immune-mediated tumour eradication, both at locoregional and systemic sites of disease. Lysis of tumour cells releases tumour-specific antigens that trigger both the innate and adaptive immune systems. OVs also represent attractive combination partners with other systemically delivered agents by virtue of their highly favourable safety profiles. Rational combinations of OVs with different immune modifiers and/or antitumour agents, based on mechanisms of tumour resistance to immune-mediated attack, may benefit the large, currently underserved, population of patients who respond poorly to immune checkpoint inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Harrington
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
| | | | - Beth Kelly
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | | | - Jean-Charles Soria
- Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.,Department of Medicine and Medical Oncology, Université Paris-Sud, Orsay, France
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18
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Sivanandam V, LaRocca CJ, Chen NG, Fong Y, Warner SG. Oncolytic Viruses and Immune Checkpoint Inhibition: The Best of Both Worlds. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 13:93-106. [PMID: 31080879 PMCID: PMC6503136 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy and the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors have markedly changed the treatment paradigm for many cancers. They function to disrupt cancer cell evasion of the immune response and activate sustained anti-tumor immunity. Oncolytic viruses have also emerged as an additional therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. These viruses are designed to target and kill tumor cells while leaving the normal cells unharmed. As part of this process, oncolytic virus infection stimulates anti-cancer immune responses that augment the efficacy of checkpoint inhibition. These viruses have the capability of transforming a “cold” tumor microenvironment with few immune effector cells into a “hot” environment with increased immune cell and cytokine infiltration. For this reason, there are multiple ongoing clinical trials that combine oncolytic virotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. This review will detail the key oncolytic viruses in preclinical and clinical studies and highlight the results of their testing with checkpoint inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatesh Sivanandam
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | | | - Nanhai G Chen
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Yuman Fong
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
| | - Susanne G Warner
- Department of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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19
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Melzer MK, Zeitlinger L, Mall S, Steiger K, Schmid RM, Ebert O, Krackhardt A, Altomonte J. Enhanced Safety and Efficacy of Oncolytic VSV Therapy by Combination with T Cell Receptor Transgenic T Cells as Carriers. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 12:26-40. [PMID: 30662938 PMCID: PMC6325079 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) represents an attractive oncolytic virotherapy platform because of its potent tumor cell-killing and immune-stimulating properties; yet the clinical translation of VSV faces numerous challenges, such as inefficient systemic delivery and severe side effects such as neurotoxicity. We hypothesized that we could overcome these limitations and simultaneously enhance the therapy, by combining VSV with adoptively transferred T cell receptor (TCR) transgenic T cells as carrier cells. We show that CD8+ T central memory cells (CD8+ T cm) can be efficiently loaded with VSV, they support intracellular virus production, and they can efficiently transfer VSV to tumor cells without compromising their own viability or antitumor reactivity. Loading VSV onto CD8+ T cm not only improves the safety compared with systemic administration of naked virus, but this approach also allows for an effective delivery of virus to its tumor target, resulting in an effective combination therapy in NSG mice bearing subcutaneous human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) tumors. We conclude that the combination of potent tumor debulking provided by the oncolytic VSV with the added effector functions afforded by the cytotoxic immune carrier cells results in a potent and safer immunotherapeutic, which can be further developed for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Karl Melzer
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Zeitlinger
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Mall
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium of Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- Institut für Pathologie, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Roland M Schmid
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Oliver Ebert
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Angela Krackhardt
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin III, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium of Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jennifer Altomonte
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University, 81675 Munich, Germany
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20
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Zhang X, Mao G, van den Pol AN. Chikungunya-vesicular stomatitis chimeric virus targets and eliminates brain tumors. Virology 2018; 522:244-259. [PMID: 30055515 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2018] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) shows potential for targeting and killing cancer cells, but can be dangerous in the brain due to its neurotropic glycoprotein. Here we test a chimeric virus in which the VSV glycoprotein is replaced with the Chikungunya polyprotein E3-E2-6K-E1 (VSVΔG-CHIKV). Control mice with brain tumors survived a mean of 40 days after tumor implant. VSVΔG-CHIKV selectively infected and eliminated the tumor, and extended survival substantially in all tumor-bearing mice to over 100 days. VSVΔG-CHIKV also targeted intracranial primary patient derived melanoma xenografts. Virus injected into one melanoma spread to other melanomas within the same brain with little detectable infection of normal cells. Intravenous VSVΔG-CHIKV infected tumor cells but not normal tissue. In immunocompetent mice, VSVΔG-CHIKV selectively infected mouse melanoma cells within the brain. These data suggest VSVΔG-CHIKV can target and destroy brain tumors in multiple animal models without the neurotropism associated with the wild type VSV glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Guochao Mao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States
| | - Anthony N van den Pol
- Department of Neurosurgery, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St, New Haven, CT 06520, United States.
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21
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Suksanpaisan L, Xu R, Tesfay MZ, Bomidi C, Hamm S, Vandergaast R, Jenks N, Steele MB, Ota-Setlik A, Akhtar H, Luckay A, Nowak R, Peng KW, Eldridge JH, Clarke DK, Russell SJ, Diaz RM. Preclinical Development of Oncolytic Immunovirotherapy for Treatment of HPV POS Cancers. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2018; 10:1-13. [PMID: 29998190 PMCID: PMC6037044 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2018.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy for HPVPOS malignancies is attractive because well-defined, viral, non-self tumor antigens exist as targets. Several approaches to vaccinate therapeutically against HPV E6 and E7 antigens have been adopted, including viral platforms such as VSV. A major advantage of VSV expressing these antigens is that VSV also acts as an oncolytic virus, leading to direct tumor cell killing and induction of effective anti-E6 and anti-E7 T cell responses. We have also shown that addition of immune adjuvant genes, such as IFNβ, further enhances safety and/or efficacy of VSV-based oncolytic immunovirotherapies. However, multiple designs of the viral vector are possible—with respect to levels of immunogen expression and method of virus attenuation—and optimal designs have not previously been tested head-to-head. Here, we tested three different VSV engineered to express a non-oncogenic HPV16 E7/6 fusion protein for their immunotherapeutic and oncolytic properties. We assessed their profiles of efficacy and toxicity against HPVPOS and HPVNEG murine tumor models and determined the optimal route of administration. Our data show that VSV is an excellent platform for the oncolytic immunovirotherapy of tumors expressing HPV target antigens, combining a balance of efficacy and safety suitable for evaluation in a first-in-human clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rong Xu
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | | | | | - Stefan Hamm
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | | | - Nathan Jenks
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Michael B Steele
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Hinna Akhtar
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Amara Luckay
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Rebecca Nowak
- Profectus Biosciences, Inc., Pearl River, NY 10965, USA
| | - Kah Whye Peng
- Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Vyriad, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA.,Deparment of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | | | - Stephen J Russell
- Vyriad, Inc., Rochester, MN 55902, USA.,Deparment of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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22
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Kottke T, Evgin L, Shim KG, Rommelfanger D, Boisgerault N, Zaidi S, Diaz RM, Thompson J, Ilett E, Coffey M, Selby P, Pandha H, Harrington K, Melcher A, Vile R. Subversion of NK-cell and TNFα Immune Surveillance Drives Tumor Recurrence. Cancer Immunol Res 2017; 5:1029-1045. [PMID: 29038298 PMCID: PMC5858196 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-17-0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2017] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how incompletely cleared primary tumors transition from minimal residual disease (MRD) into treatment-resistant, immune-invisible recurrences has major clinical significance. We show here that this transition is mediated through the subversion of two key elements of innate immunosurveillance. In the first, the role of TNFα changes from an antitumor effector against primary tumors into a growth promoter for MRD. Second, whereas primary tumors induced a natural killer (NK)-mediated cytokine response characterized by low IL6 and elevated IFNγ, PD-L1hi MRD cells promoted the secretion of IL6 but minimal IFNγ, inhibiting both NK-cell and T-cell surveillance. Tumor recurrence was promoted by trauma- or infection-like stimuli inducing VEGF and TNFα, which stimulated the growth of MRD tumors. Finally, therapies that blocked PD-1, TNFα, or NK cells delayed or prevented recurrence. These data show how innate immunosurveillance mechanisms, which control infection and growth of primary tumors, are exploited by recurrent, competent tumors and identify therapeutic targets in patients with MRD known to be at high risk of relapse. Cancer Immunol Res; 5(11); 1029-45. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Kevin G Shim
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | | | | | - Shane Zaidi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Rosa Maria Diaz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Jill Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Elizabeth Ilett
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | - Matt Coffey
- Oncolytics Biotech Incorporated, Calgary, Canada
| | - Peter Selby
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Alan Melcher
- The Institute of Cancer Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
- Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, St. James' University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
- Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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23
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Masemann D, Boergeling Y, Ludwig S. Employing RNA viruses to fight cancer: novel insights into oncolytic virotherapy. Biol Chem 2017; 398:891-909. [DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2017-0103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Within recent decades, viruses that specifically target tumor cells have emerged as novel therapeutic agents against cancer. These viruses do not only act via their cell-lytic properties, but also harbor immunostimulatory features to re-direct the tumor microenvironment and stimulate tumor-directed immune responses. Furthermore, oncolytic viruses are considered to be superior to classical cancer therapies due to higher selectivity towards tumor cell destruction and, consequently, less collateral damage of non-transformed healthy tissue. In particular, the field of oncolytic RNA viruses is rapidly developing since these agents possess alternative tumor-targeting strategies compared to established oncolytic DNA viruses. Thus, oncolytic RNA viruses have broadened the field of virotherapy facilitating new strategies to fight cancer. In addition to several naturally occurring oncolytic viruses, genetically modified RNA viruses that are armed to express foreign factors such as immunostimulatory molecules have been successfully tested in early clinical trials showing promising efficacy. This review aims to provide an overview of the most promising RNA viruses in clinical development, to summarize the current knowledge of clinical trials using these viral agents, and to discuss the main issues as well as future perspectives of clinical approaches using oncolytic RNA viruses.
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24
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Guo ZS, Liu Z, Kowalsky S, Feist M, Kalinski P, Lu B, Storkus WJ, Bartlett DL. Oncolytic Immunotherapy: Conceptual Evolution, Current Strategies, and Future Perspectives. Front Immunol 2017; 8:555. [PMID: 28555136 PMCID: PMC5430078 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of oncolytic virus (OV)-mediated cancer therapy has been shifted from an operational virotherapy paradigm to an immunotherapy. OVs often induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) of cancer cells, and they may interact directly with immune cells as well to prime antitumor immunity. We and others have developed a number of strategies to further stimulate antitumor immunity and to productively modulate the tumor microenvironment (TME) for potent and sustained antitumor immune cell activity. First, OVs have been engineered or combined with other ICD inducers to promote more effective T cell cross-priming, and in many cases, the breaking of functional immune tolerance. Second, OVs may be armed to express Th1-stimulatory cytokines/chemokines or costimulators to recruit and sustain the potent antitumor immunity into the TME to focus their therapeutic activity within the sites of disease. Third, combinations of OV with immunomodulatory drugs or antibodies that recondition the TME have proven to be highly promising in early studies. Fourth, combinations of OVs with other immunotherapeutic regimens (such as prime-boost cancer vaccines, CAR T cells; armed with bispecific T-cell engagers) have also yielded promising preliminary findings. Finally, OVs have been combined with immune checkpoint blockade, with robust antitumor efficacy being observed in pilot evaluations. Despite some expected hurdles for the rapid translation of OV-based state-of-the-art protocols, we believe that a cohort of these novel approaches will join the repertoire of standard cancer treatment options in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zong Sheng Guo
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Zuqiang Liu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Stacy Kowalsky
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Mathilde Feist
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, 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
| | - Pawel Kalinski
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Binfeng Lu
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Walter J Storkus
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David L Bartlett
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.,Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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25
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Russell SJ, Peng KW. Oncolytic Virotherapy: A Contest between Apples and Oranges. Mol Ther 2017; 25:1107-1116. [PMID: 28392162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses can be engineered or adapted for selective propagation in neoplastic tissues and further modified for therapeutic transgene expression to enhance their antitumor potency and druggability. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) can be administered locally or intravenously and spread to a variable degree at sites of tumor growth. OV-infected tumor cells die in situ, releasing viral and tumor antigens that are phagocytosed by macrophages, transported to regional lymph nodes, and presented to antigen-reactive T cells, which proliferate before dispersing to kill uninfected tumor cells at distant sites. Several OVs are showing clinical promise, and one of them, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC), was recently granted marketing approval for intratumoral therapy of nonresectable metastatic melanoma. T-VEC also appears to substantially enhance clinical responsiveness to checkpoint inhibitor antibody therapy. Here, we examine the T-VEC paradigm and review some of the approaches currently being pursued to develop the next generation of OVs for both local and systemic administration, as well as for use in combination with other immunomodulatory agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
| | - Kah-Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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26
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Chikungunya, Influenza, Nipah, and Semliki Forest Chimeric Viruses with Vesicular Stomatitis Virus: Actions in the Brain. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.02154-16. [PMID: 28077641 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02154-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based chimeric viruses that include genes from other viruses show promise as vaccines and oncolytic viruses. However, the critical safety concern is the neurotropic nature conveyed by the VSV glycoprotein. VSVs that include the VSV glycoprotein (G) gene, even in most recombinant attenuated strains, can still show substantial adverse or lethal actions in the brain. Here, we test 4 chimeric viruses in the brain, including those in which glycoprotein genes from Nipah, chikungunya (CHIKV), and influenza H5N1 viruses were substituted for the VSV glycoprotein gene. We also test a virus-like vesicle (VLV) in which the VSV glycoprotein gene is expressed from a replicon encoding the nonstructural proteins of Semliki Forest virus. VSVΔG-CHIKV, VSVΔG-H5N1, and VLV were all safe in the adult mouse brain, as were VSVΔG viruses expressing either the Nipah F or G glycoprotein. In contrast, a complementing pair of VSVΔG viruses expressing Nipah G and F glycoproteins were lethal within the brain within a surprisingly short time frame of 2 days. Intranasal inoculation in postnatal day 14 mice with VSVΔG-CHIKV or VLV evoked no adverse response, whereas VSVΔG-H5N1 by this route was lethal in most mice. A key immune mechanism underlying the safety of VSVΔG-CHIKV, VSVΔG-H5N1, and VLV in the adult brain was the type I interferon response; all three viruses were lethal in the brains of adult mice lacking the interferon receptor, suggesting that the viruses can infect and replicate and spread in brain cells if not blocked by interferon-stimulated genes within the brain.IMPORTANCE Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) shows considerable promise both as a vaccine vector and as an oncolytic virus. The greatest limitation of VSV is that it is highly neurotropic and can be lethal within the brain. The neurotropism can be mostly attributed to the VSV G glycoprotein. Here, we test 4 chimeric viruses of VSV with glycoprotein genes from Nipah, chikungunya, and influenza viruses and nonstructural genes from Semliki Forest virus. Two of the four, VSVΔG-CHIKV and VLV, show substantially attenuated neurotropism and were safe in the healthy adult mouse brain. VSVΔG-H5N1 was safe in the adult brain but lethal in the younger brain. VSVΔG Nipah F+G was even more neurotropic than wild-type VSV, evoking a rapid lethal response in the adult brain. These results suggest that while chimeric VSVs show promise, each must be tested with both intranasal and intracranial administration to ensure the absence of lethal neurotropism.
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27
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Shim KG, Zaidi S, Thompson J, Kottke T, Evgin L, Rajani KR, Schuelke M, Driscoll CB, Huff A, Pulido JS, Vile RG. Inhibitory Receptors Induced by VSV Viroimmunotherapy Are Not Necessarily Targets for Improving Treatment Efficacy. Mol Ther 2017; 25:962-975. [PMID: 28237836 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic viroimmunotherapy activates endogenous innate and adaptive immune responses against both viral and tumor antigens. We have shown that therapy with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) engineered to express a tumor-associated antigen activates antigen-specific adoptively transferred T cells (adoptive cell therapy, ACT) in vivo to generate effective therapy. The overall goal of this study was to phenotypically characterize the immune response to VSV+ACT therapy and use the information gained to rationally improve combination therapy. We observed rapid expansion of blood CD8+ effector cells acutely following VSV therapy with markedly high expression of the immune checkpoint molecules PD-1 and TIM-3. Using these data, we tested a treatment schedule incorporating mAb immune checkpoint inhibitors with VSV+ACT treatment. Unlike clinical scenarios, we delivered therapy at early time points following tumor establishment and treatment. Our goal was to potentiate the immune response generated by VSV therapy to achieve durable control of metastatic disease. Despite the high frequency of endogenous PD-1+ TIM-3+ CD8+ T cells following virus administration, antibody blockade did not improve survival. These findings provide highly significant information about response kinetics to viroimmunotherapy and juxtapose the clinical use of checkpoint inhibitors against chronically dysfunctional T cells and the acute T cell response to oncolytic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin G Shim
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Shane Zaidi
- Targeted Therapy Laboratory, The Institute of Cancer Research, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Jill Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Tim Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Laura Evgin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Karishma R Rajani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Matthew Schuelke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Amanda Huff
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jose S Pulido
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Richard G Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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28
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Melzer MK, Lopez-Martinez A, Altomonte J. Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus as a Viro-Immunotherapy: Defeating Cancer with a "Hammer" and "Anvil". Biomedicines 2017; 5:E8. [PMID: 28536351 PMCID: PMC5423493 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses have gained much attention in recent years, due, not only to their ability to selectively replicate in and lyse tumor cells, but to their potential to stimulate antitumor immune responses directed against the tumor. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a negative-strand RNA virus, is under intense development as an oncolytic virus due to a variety of favorable properties, including its rapid replication kinetics, inherent tumor specificity, and its potential to elicit a broad range of immunomodulatory responses to break immune tolerance in the tumor microenvironment. Based on this powerful platform, a multitude of strategies have been applied to further improve the immune-stimulating potential of VSV and synergize these responses with the direct oncolytic effect. These strategies include: 1. modification of endogenous virus genes to stimulate interferon induction; 2. virus-mediated expression of cytokines or immune-stimulatory molecules to enhance anti-tumor immune responses; 3. vaccination approaches to stimulate adaptive immune responses against a tumor antigen; 4. combination with adoptive immune cell therapy for potentially synergistic therapeutic responses. A summary of these approaches will be presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Karl Melzer
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Arturo Lopez-Martinez
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
| | - Jennifer Altomonte
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Str. 22, 81675 Munich, Germany.
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29
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Falls T, Roy DG, Bell JC, Bourgeois-Daigneault MC. Murine Tumor Models for Oncolytic Rhabdo-Virotherapy. ILAR J 2017; 57:73-85. [PMID: 27034397 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilv048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The preclinical optimization and validation of novel treatments for cancer therapy requires the use of laboratory animals. Although in vitro experiments using tumor cell lines and ex vivo treatment of patient tumor samples provide a remarkable first-line tool for the initial study of tumoricidal potential, tumor-bearing animals remain the primary option to study delivery, efficacy, and safety of therapies in the context of a complete tumor microenvironment and functional immune system. In this review, we will describe the use of murine tumor models for oncolytic virotherapy using vesicular stomatitis virus. We will discuss studies using immunocompetent and immunodeficient models with respect to toxicity and therapeutic treatments, as well as the various techniques and tools available to study cancer therapy with Rhabdoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Falls
- Theresa Falls is a research technician at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. Dominic Guy Roy is a Ph.D candidate at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a Ph.D candidate in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. John Cameron Bell is a senior researcher at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and professor in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Marie-Claude Bourgeois-Daigneault is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellow in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada
| | - Dominic Guy Roy
- Theresa Falls is a research technician at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. Dominic Guy Roy is a Ph.D candidate at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a Ph.D candidate in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. John Cameron Bell is a senior researcher at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and professor in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Marie-Claude Bourgeois-Daigneault is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellow in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada
| | - John Cameron Bell
- Theresa Falls is a research technician at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. Dominic Guy Roy is a Ph.D candidate at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a Ph.D candidate in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. John Cameron Bell is a senior researcher at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and professor in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Marie-Claude Bourgeois-Daigneault is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellow in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada
| | - Marie-Claude Bourgeois-Daigneault
- Theresa Falls is a research technician at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada. Dominic Guy Roy is a Ph.D candidate at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a Ph.D candidate in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. John Cameron Bell is a senior researcher at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and professor in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada. Marie-Claude Bourgeois-Daigneault is a postdoctoral fellow at the Centre for Innovative Cancer Research at Ottawa Hospital Research Institute in Ottawa, Canada, and a postdoctoral fellow in the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Department at the University of Ottawa in Ottawa, Canada
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30
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Taking a Stab at Cancer; Oncolytic Virus-Mediated Anti-Cancer Vaccination Strategies. Biomedicines 2017; 5:biomedicines5010003. [PMID: 28536346 PMCID: PMC5423491 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines5010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines have classically been used for disease prevention. Modern clinical vaccines are continuously being developed for both traditional use as well as for new applications. Typically thought of in terms of infectious disease control, vaccination approaches can alternatively be adapted as a cancer therapy. Vaccines targeting cancer antigens can be used to induce anti-tumour immunity and have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy both pre-clinically and clinically. Various approaches now exist and further establish the tremendous potential and adaptability of anti-cancer vaccination. Classical strategies include ex vivo-loaded immune cells, RNA- or DNA-based vaccines and tumour cell lysates. Recent oncolytic virus development has resulted in a surge of novel viruses engineered to induce powerful tumour-specific immune responses. In addition to their use as cancer vaccines, oncolytic viruses have the added benefit of being directly cytolytic to cancer cells and thus promote antigen recognition within a highly immune-stimulating tumour microenvironment. While oncolytic viruses are perfectly equipped for efficient immunization, this complicates their use upon previous exposure. Indeed, the host's anti-viral counter-attacks often impair multiple-dosing regimens. In this review we will focus on the use of oncolytic viruses for anti-tumour vaccination. We will explore different strategies as well as ways to circumvent some of their limitations.
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31
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Holay N, Kim Y, Lee P, Gujar S. Sharpening the Edge for Precision Cancer Immunotherapy: Targeting Tumor Antigens through Oncolytic Vaccines. Front Immunol 2017; 8:800. [PMID: 28751892 PMCID: PMC5507961 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy represents a promising, modern-age option for treatment of cancers. Among the many immunotherapies being developed, oncolytic viruses (OVs) are slowly moving to the forefront of potential clinical therapeutic agents, especially considering the fact that the first oncolytic virus was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of melanoma. OVs were originally discovered for their ability to kill cancer cells, but they have emerged as unconventional cancer immunotherapeutics due to their ability to activate a long-term antitumor immune response. This immune response not only eliminates cancer cells but also offers potential for preventing cancer recurrence. A fundamental requirement for the generation of such a strong antitumor T cell response is the recognition of an immunogenic tumor antigen by the antitumor T cell. Several tumor antigens capable of activating these antitumor T cells have been identified and are now being expressed through genetically engineered OVs to potentiate antitumor immunity. With the emergence of novel technologies for identifying tumor antigens and immunogenic epitopes in a myriad of cancers, design of "oncolytic vaccines" expressing highly specific tumor antigens provides a great strategy for targeting tumors. Here, we highlight the various OVs engineered to target tumor antigens and discuss multiple studies and strategies used to develop oncolytic vaccine regimens. We also contend how, going forward, a combination of technologies for identifying novel immunogenic tumor antigens and rational design of oncolytic vaccines will pave the way for the next generation of clinically efficacious cancer immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namit Holay
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Youra Kim
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Patrick Lee
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Health Sciences Research, Quality and System Performance, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Shashi Gujar,
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32
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The Effect of Vector Silencing during Picornavirus Vaccination against Experimental Melanoma and Glioma. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0162064. [PMID: 27560502 PMCID: PMC4999064 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Virus vector-based vaccination against tumor-specific antigens remains a promising therapeutic approach to overcome the immune suppressive tumor microenvironment. However, the extent that the desired CD8 T cell response against the targeted tumor antigen is impacted by the CD8 T cell response against the virus vector is unclear. To address this question, we used picornavirus vaccination with Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) as our vector against tumor-expressed ovalbumin (OVA257-264) antigen in both the B16-OVA murine melanoma and GL261-quad cassette murine glioma models. Prior to vaccination, we employed vector silencing to inhibit the CD8 T cell response against the immunodominant TMEV antigen, VP2121-130. We then monitored the resulting effect on the CD8 T cell response against the targeted tumor-specific antigen, ovalbumin. We demonstrate that employing vector silencing in the context of B16-OVA melanoma does not reduce tumor burden or improve survival, while TMEV-OVA vaccination without vector silencing controls tumor burden. Meanwhile, employing vector silencing during picornavirus vaccination against the GL261-quad cassette glioma resulted in a lower frequency of tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells. The results of this study are relevant to antigen-specific immunotherapy, in that the virus vector-specific CD8 T cell response is not competing with tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cells. Furthermore, vector silencing may have the adverse consequence of reducing the tumor antigen-specific CD8 T cell response, as demonstrated by our findings in the GL261-quad cassette model.
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33
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Zamarin D, Pesonen S. Replication-Competent Viruses as Cancer Immunotherapeutics: Emerging Clinical Data. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 26:538-49. [PMID: 26176173 PMCID: PMC4968310 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Replication-competent (oncolytic) viruses (OV) as cancer immunotherapeutics have gained an increasing level of attention over the last few years while the clinical evidence of virus-mediated antitumor immune responses is still anecdotal. Multiple clinical studies are currently ongoing and more immunomonitoring results are expected within the next five years. All viruses can be recognized by the immune system and are therefore potential candidates for immune therapeutics. However, each virus activates innate immune system by using different combination of recognition receptors/pathways which leads to qualitatively different adaptive immune responses. This review summarizes immunological findings in cancer patients following treatment with replication-competent viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitriy Zamarin
- 1 Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , New York, New York
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34
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Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) comprise an emerging cancer therapeutic modality whose activity involves both direct tumor cell lysis and the induction of immunogenic cell death (ICD). Cellular proteins released from the OV-lysed tumor cells, known as damage-associated molecular patterns and tumor-associated antigens, activate dendritic cells and elicit adaptive antitumor immunity. Interaction with the innate immune system and the development of long-lasting immune memory also contribute to OV-induced cell death. The degree to which the ICD component contributes to the clinical efficacy of OV therapy is still unclear. Modulation of a range of immune interactions may be beneficial or detrimental in nature and the interactions depend on the specific tumor, the site and extent of the disease, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, the OV platform, the dose, time, and delivery conditions, as well as individual patient responses. To enhance the contribution of ICD, OVs have been engineered to express immunostimulatory genes and strategies have been developed to combine OV therapy with chemo- and immune-based therapeutic regimens. However, these approaches carry the risk that they may also be tolerogenic depending on their levels and the presence of other cytokines, their direct antiviral effects, and the timing and conditions of their expression. The contribution of autophagy to adaptive immunity, the ability of the OVs to kill cancer stem cells, and the patient’s baseline immune status are additional considerations. This review focuses on the complex and as yet poorly understood balancing act that dictates the outcome of OV therapy. We summarize current understanding of the OVs’ function in eliciting antitumor immunity and its relationship to therapeutic efficacy. Also discussed are the criteria involved in restraining antiviral immune responses and minimizing pathology while promoting antitumor immunity to override immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laure Aurelian
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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35
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Ovarian cancer treatment with a tumor-targeting and gene expression-controllable lipoplex. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23764. [PMID: 27026065 PMCID: PMC4824455 DOI: 10.1038/srep23764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of folate receptor alpha (FRα) and high telomerase activity are considered to be the characteristics of ovarian cancers. In this study, we developed FRα-targeted lipoplexes loaded with an hTERT promoter-regulated plasmid that encodes a matrix protein (MP) of the vesicular stomatitis virus, F-LP/pMP(2.5), for application in ovarian cancer treatment. We first characterized the pharmaceutical properties of F-LP/pMP(2.5). The efficient expression of the MP-driven hTERT promoter in SKOV-3 cells was determined after an in-vitro transfection assay, which was significantly increased compared with a non-modified LP/pMP(2.5) group. F-LP/pMP(2.5) treatment significantly inhibited the growth of tumors and extended the survival of mice in a SKOV-3 tumor model compared with other groups. Such an anti-tumor effect was due to the increased expression of MP in tumor tissue, which led to the induction of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and suppression of tumor angiogenesis. Furthermore, a preliminary safety evaluation demonstrated a good safety profile of F-LP/pMP(2.5) as a gene therapy agent. Therefore, FRα-targeted lipoplexes with therapeutic gene expression regulated by an hTERT promoter might be a promising gene therapy agent and a potential translational candidate for the clinical treatment of ovarian cancer.
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Definitive Management of Oligometastatic Melanoma in a Murine Model Using Combined Ablative Radiation Therapy and Viral Immunotherapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2015; 93:577-87. [PMID: 26461000 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2015.07.2274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2015] [Revised: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The oligometastatic state is an intermediate state between a malignancy that can be completely eradicated with conventional modalities and one in which a palliative approach is undertaken. Clinically, high rates of local tumor control are possible with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR), using precisely targeted, high-dose, low-fraction radiation therapy. However, in oligometastatic melanoma, virtually all patients develop progression systemically at sites not initially treated with ablative radiation therapy that cannot be managed with conventional chemotherapy and immunotherapy. We have demonstrated in mice that intravenous administration of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) expressing defined tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) generates systemic immune responses capable of clearing established tumors. Therefore, in the present preclinical study, we tested whether the combination of systemic VSV-mediated antigen delivery and SABR would be effective against oligometastatic disease. METHODS AND MATERIALS We generated a model of oligometastatic melanoma in C57BL/6 immunocompetent mice and then used a combination of SABR and systemically administered VSV-TAA viral immunotherapy to treat both local and systemic disease. RESULTS Our data showed that SABR generates excellent control or cure of local, clinically detectable, and accessible tumor through direct cell ablation. Also, the immunotherapeutic activity of systemically administered VSV-TAA generated T-cell responses that cleared subclinical metastatic tumors. We also showed that SABR induced weak T-cell-mediated tumor responses, which, particularly if boosted by VSV-TAA, might contribute to control of local and systemic disease. In addition, VSV-TAA therapy alone had significant effects on control of both local and metastatic tumors. CONCLUSIONS We have shown in the present preliminary murine study using a single tumor model that this approach represents an effective, complementary combination therapy model that addresses the need for both systemic and local control in oligometastatic melanoma.
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Singh M, Overwijk WW. Intratumoral immunotherapy for melanoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2015; 64:911-21. [PMID: 26050024 PMCID: PMC11028428 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-015-1727-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Selection of suitable tumor-associated antigens is a major challenge in the development of effective cancer vaccines. Intratumoral (i.t.) immunotherapy empowers the immune system to mount T cell responses against tumor-associated antigens which are most immunogenic. To mediate systemic tumor regression, i.t. immunotherapy must generate systemic T cell responses that can target distant metastases beyond the initially treated tumor mass. Now that promising preclinical results and some initial success in clinical trials have been obtained, we here review i.t. immunotherapy-related preclinical and clinical studies, their mechanisms of action and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manisha Singh
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 7455 Fannin St., Unit 0904, Houston, TX 77030 USA
| | - Willem W. Overwijk
- Department of Melanoma Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 7455 Fannin St., Unit 0904, Houston, TX 77030 USA
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston, Houston, TX USA
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Tähtinen S, Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela S, Lumen D, Merisalo-Soikkeli M, Siurala M, Airaksinen AJ, Vähä-Koskela M, Hemminki A. Adenovirus Improves the Efficacy of Adoptive T-cell Therapy by Recruiting Immune Cells to and Promoting Their Activity at the Tumor. Cancer Immunol Res 2015; 3:915-25. [PMID: 25977260 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0220-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Despite the rapid progress in the development of novel adoptive T-cell therapies, the clinical benefits in treatment of established tumors have remained modest. Several immune evasion mechanisms hinder T-cell entry into tumors and their activity within the tumor. Of note, oncolytic adenoviruses are intrinsically immunogenic due to inherent pathogen-associated molecular patterns. Here, we studied the capacity of adenovirus to overcome resistance of chicken ovalbumin-expressing B16.OVA murine melanoma tumors to adoptive ovalbumin-specific CD8(+) T-cell (OT-I) therapy. Following intraperitoneal transfer of polyclonally activated OT-I lymphocytes, control of tumor growth was superior in mice given intratumoral adenovirus compared with control mice, even in the absence of oncolytic virus replication. Preexisting antiviral immunity against serotype 5 did not hinder the therapeutic efficacy of the combination treatment. Intratumoral adenovirus injection was associated with an increase in proinflammatory cytokines, CD45(+) leukocytes, CD8(+) lymphocytes, and F4/80(+) macrophages, suggesting enhanced tumor immunogenicity. The proinflammatory effects of adenovirus on the tumor microenvironment led to expression of costimulatory signals on CD11c(+) antigen-presenting cells and subsequent activation of T cells, thus breaking the tumor-induced peripheral tolerance. An increased number of CD8(+) T cells specific for endogenous tumor antigens TRP-2 and gp100 was detected in combination-treated mice, indicating epitope spreading. Moreover, the majority of virus/T-cell-treated mice rejected the challenge of parental B16.F10 tumors, suggesting that systemic antitumor immunity was induced. In summary, we provide proof-of-mechanism data on combining adoptive T-cell therapy and adenovirotherapy for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siri Tähtinen
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dave Lumen
- Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Maiju Merisalo-Soikkeli
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mikko Siurala
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu J Airaksinen
- Laboratory of Radiochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Centre for Drug Research, Division of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Markus Vähä-Koskela
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Akseli Hemminki
- Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Department of Pathology and Transplantation Laboratory, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland. Department of Oncology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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Lassa-vesicular stomatitis chimeric virus safely destroys brain tumors. J Virol 2015; 89:6711-24. [PMID: 25878115 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00709-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/11/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED High-grade tumors in the brain are among the deadliest of cancers. Here, we took a promising oncolytic virus, vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and tested the hypothesis that the neurotoxicity associated with the virus could be eliminated without blocking its oncolytic potential in the brain by replacing the neurotropic VSV glycoprotein with the glycoprotein from one of five different viruses, including Ebola virus, Marburg virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), rabies virus, and Lassa virus. Based on in vitro infections of normal and tumor cells, we selected two viruses to test in vivo. Wild-type VSV was lethal when injected directly into the brain. In contrast, a novel chimeric virus (VSV-LASV-GPC) containing genes from both the Lassa virus glycoprotein precursor (GPC) and VSV showed no adverse actions within or outside the brain and targeted and completely destroyed brain cancer, including high-grade glioblastoma and melanoma, even in metastatic cancer models. When mice had two brain tumors, intratumoral VSV-LASV-GPC injection in one tumor (glioma or melanoma) led to complete tumor destruction; importantly, the virus moved contralaterally within the brain to selectively infect the second noninjected tumor. A chimeric virus combining VSV genes with the gene coding for the Ebola virus glycoprotein was safe in the brain and also selectively targeted brain tumors but was substantially less effective in destroying brain tumors and prolonging survival of tumor-bearing mice. A tropism for multiple cancer types combined with an exquisite tumor specificity opens a new door to widespread application of VSV-LASV-GPC as a safe and efficacious oncolytic chimeric virus within the brain. IMPORTANCE Many viruses have been tested for their ability to target and kill cancer cells. Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has shown substantial promise, but a key problem is that if it enters the brain, it can generate adverse neurologic consequences, including death. We tested a series of chimeric viruses containing genes coding for VSV, together with a gene coding for the glycoprotein from other viruses, including Ebola virus, Lassa virus, LCMV, rabies virus, and Marburg virus, which was substituted for the VSV glycoprotein gene. Ebola and Lassa chimeric viruses were safe in the brain and targeted brain tumors. Lassa-VSV was particularly effective, showed no adverse side effects even when injected directly into the brain, and targeted and destroyed two different types of deadly brain cancer, including glioblastoma and melanoma.
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Workenhe ST, Verschoor ML, Mossman KL. The role of oncolytic virus immunotherapies to subvert cancer immune evasion. Future Oncol 2015; 11:675-89. [DOI: 10.2217/fon.14.254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Despite huge economic and intellectual investments, developing effective cancer treatments continues to be an overarching challenge. Engineered oncolytic viruses (OVs) present self-amplifying immunotherapy platforms capable of preferential cytotoxicity to cancer cells and simultaneous activation of host anti-tumor immunity. In preclinical studies, OVs are showing potent therapeutic effects when used in combination with other immune therapy strategies. In the clinic, the immunotherapeutic effects of OVs are showing promising results. Here we review current strategies for engineering OVs, and present a perspective of future directions within a discussion of the current outcomes of combinatorial approaches with other cancer immunotherapy platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel T Workenhe
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Meghan L Verschoor
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Karen L Mossman
- Department of Pathology & Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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Alonso-Camino V, Rajani K, Kottke T, Rommelfanger-Konkol D, Zaidi S, Thompson J, Pulido J, Ilett E, Donnelly O, Selby P, Pandha H, Melcher A, Harrington K, Diaz RM, Vile R. The profile of tumor antigens which can be targeted by immunotherapy depends upon the tumor's anatomical site. Mol Ther 2014; 22:1936-48. [PMID: 25059678 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2014] [Accepted: 07/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we showed that vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) engineered to express a cDNA library from human melanoma cells (ASMEL, Altered Self Melanoma Epitope Library) was an effective systemic therapy to treat subcutaneous (s.c.) murine B16 melanomas. Here, we show that intravenous treatment with the same ASMEL VSV-cDNA library was an effective treatment for established intra-cranial (i.c.) melanoma brain tumors. The optimal combination of antigens identified from the ASMEL which treated s.c. B16 tumors (VSV-N-RAS+VSV-CYTC-C+VSV-TYRP-1) was ineffective against i.c. B16 brain tumors. In contrast, combination of VSV-expressed antigens-VSV-HIF-2α+VSV-SOX-10+VSV-C-MYC+VSV-TYRP1-from ASMEL which was highly effective against i.c. B16 brain tumors, had no efficacy against the same tumors growing subcutaneously. Correspondingly, i.c. B16 tumors expressed a HIF-2α(Hi), SOX-10(Hi), c-myc(Hi), TYRP1, N-RAS(lo)Cytc(lo) antigen profile, which differed significantly from the HIF-2α(lo), SOX-10(lo), c-myc(lo), TYRP1, N-RAS(Hi)Cytc(Hi) phenotype of s.c. B16 tumors, and was imposed upon the tumor cells by CD11b(+) cells within the local brain tumor microenvironment. Combining T-cell costimulation with systemic VSV-cDNA treatment, long-term cures of mice with established i.c. tumors were achieved in about 75% of mice. Our data show that the anatomical location of a tumor profoundly affects the profile of antigens that it expresses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Karishma Rajani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Timothy Kottke
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | | | - Shane Zaidi
- 1] Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK [2] The Institute of Cancer Research, Division of Cancer Biology, Chester Beatty Laboratories, London, UK
| | - Jill Thompson
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Jose Pulido
- 1] Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK [2] Department of Ophthalmology and Ocular Oncology Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Elizabeth Ilett
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Leeds, UK
| | - Oliver Donnelly
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Leeds, UK
| | - Peter Selby
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Leeds, UK
| | - Hardev Pandha
- Leggett Building, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Alan Melcher
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Leeds, UK
| | - Kevin Harrington
- The Institute of Cancer Research, Division of Cancer Biology, Chester Beatty Laboratories, London, UK
| | - Rosa Maria Diaz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Richard Vile
- 1] Department of Molecular Medicine, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK [2] Faculty of Medicine and Health, Leeds Institute of Cancer and Pathology, Leeds, UK [3] Department of Immunology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Nguyen A, Ho L, Wan Y. Chemotherapy and Oncolytic Virotherapy: Advanced Tactics in the War against Cancer. Front Oncol 2014; 4:145. [PMID: 24967214 PMCID: PMC4052116 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a traitorous archenemy that threatens our survival. Its ability to evade detection and adapt to various cancer therapies means that it is a moving target that becomes increasingly difficult to attack. Through technological advancements, we have developed sophisticated weapons to fight off tumor growth and invasion. However, if we are to stand a chance in this war against cancer, advanced tactics will be required to maximize the use of our available resources. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are multi-functional cancer-fighters that can be engineered to suit many different strategies; in particular, their retooling can facilitate increased capacity for direct tumor killing (oncolytic virotherapy) and elicit adaptive antitumor immune responses (oncolytic immunotherapy). However, administration of these modified OVs alone, rarely induces successful regression of established tumors. This may be attributed to host antiviral immunity that acts to eliminate viral particles, as well as the capacity for tumors to adapt to therapeutic selective pressure. It has been shown that various chemotherapeutic drugs with distinct functional properties can potentiate the antitumor efficacy of OVs. In this review, we summarize the chemotherapeutic combinatorial strategies used to optimize virally induced destruction of tumors. With a particular focus on pharmaceutical immunomodulators, we discuss how specific therapeutic contexts may alter the effects of these synergistic combinations and their implications for future clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Nguyen
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON , Canada
| | - Louisa Ho
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON , Canada
| | - Yonghong Wan
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University , Hamilton, ON , Canada
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43
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Altomonte J, Ebert O. Sorting Out Pandora's Box: Discerning the Dynamic Roles of Liver Microenvironment in Oncolytic Virus Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2014; 4:85. [PMID: 24795862 PMCID: PMC4001031 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viral therapies have recently found their way into clinical application for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a disease with limited treatment options and poor prognosis. Adding to the many intrinsic challenges of in vivo oncolytic viral therapy, is the complex microenvironment of the liver, which imposes unique limitations to the successful delivery and propagation of the virus. The normal liver milieu is characterized by an intricate network of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells including Kupffer cells, stellate cells, and sinusoidal endothelial cells, which can secrete anti-viral cytokines, provide a platform for non-specific uptake, and form a barrier to efficient viral spread. In addition, natural killer cells are greatly enriched in the liver, contributing to the innate defense against viruses. The situation is further complicated when HCC arises in the setting of underlying hepatitis virus infection and/or hepatic cirrhosis, which occurs in more than 90% of clinical cases. These conditions pose further inhibitory effects on oncolytic virus (OV) therapy due to the presence of chronic inflammation, constitutive cytokine expression, altered hepatic blood flow, and extracellular matrix deposition. In addition, OVs can modulate the hepatic microenvironment, resulting in a complex interplay between virus and host. The immune system undoubtedly plays a substantial role in the outcome of OV therapy, both as an inhibitor of viral replication, and as a potent mechanism of virus-mediated tumor cell killing. This review will discuss the particular challenges of oncolytic viral therapy for HCC, as well as some potential strategies for modulating the immune system and synergizing with the hepatic microenvironment to improve therapeutic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Altomonte
- II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , München , Germany
| | - Oliver Ebert
- II. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München , München , Germany
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Gujar SA, Lee PWK. Oncolytic virus-mediated reversal of impaired tumor antigen presentation. Front Oncol 2014; 4:77. [PMID: 24782988 PMCID: PMC3989761 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-tumor immunity can eliminate existing cancer cells and also maintain a constant surveillance against possible relapse. Such an antigen-specific adaptive response begins when tumor-specific T cells become activated. T-cell activation requires two signals on antigen presenting cells (APCs): antigen presentation through major histocombatibility complex (MHC) molecules and co-stimulation. In the absence of one or both these signals, T cells remain inactivated or can even become tolerized. Cancer cells and their associated microenvironment strategically hinder the processing and presentation of tumor antigens and consequently prevent the development of anti-tumor immunity. Many studies, however, demonstrate that interventions that over-turn tumor-associated immune evasion mechanisms can establish anti-tumor immune responses of therapeutic potential. One such intervention is oncolytic virus (OV)-based anti-cancer therapy. Here, we discuss how OV-induced immunological events override tumor-associated antigen presentation impairment and promote appropriate T cell–APC interaction. Detailed understanding of this phenomenon is pivotal for devising the strategies that will enhance the efficacy of OV-based anti-cancer therapy by complementing its inherent oncolytic activities with desired anti-tumor immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi A Gujar
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS , Canada ; Strategy and Organizational Performance, IWK Health Centre , Halifax, NS , Canada
| | - Patrick W K Lee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS , Canada ; Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS , Canada
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The strength of the T cell response against a surrogate tumor antigen induced by oncolytic VSV therapy does not correlate with tumor control. Mol Ther 2014; 22:1198-1210. [PMID: 24590047 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 02/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer therapy using oncolytic viruses has gained interest in the last decade. Vesicular stomatitis virus is an attractive candidate for this alternative treatment approach. The importance of the immune response against tumor antigens in virotherapy efficacy is now well recognized, however, its relative contribution versus the intrinsic oncolytic capacity of viruses has been difficult to evaluate. To start addressing this question, we compared glycoprotein and matrix mutants of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), showing different oncolytic potentials for B16/B16gp33 melanoma tumor cells in vitro, with the wild-type virus in their ability to induce tumor-specific CD8(+) T cell responses and control tumor progression in vivo. Despite the fact that wild-type and G mutants induced a stronger gp33-specific immune response compared to the MM51R mutant, all VSV strains showed a similar capacity to slow down tumor progression. The effectiveness of the matrix mutant treatment proved to be CD8(+) dependent and directed against tumor antigens other than gp33 since adoptive transfer of isolated CD8(+) T lymphocytes from treated B16gp33-bearing mice resulted in significant protection of naive mice against challenge with the parental tumor. Remarkably, the VSV matrix mutant induced the upregulation of major histocompatibility class-I antigen at the tumor cell surface thus favoring recognition by CD8(+) T cells. These results demonstrate that VSV mutants induce an antitumor immune response using several mechanisms. A better understanding of these mechanisms will prove useful for the rational design of viruses with improved therapeutic efficacy.
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46
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Detecting and targeting tumor relapse by its resistance to innate effectors at early recurrence. Nat Med 2013; 19:1625-1631. [PMID: 24240185 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 10/11/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tumor recurrence represents a major clinical challenge. Our data show that emergent recurrent tumors acquire a phenotype radically different from that of their originating primary tumors. This phenotype allows them to evade a host-derived innate immune response elicited by the progression from minimal residual disease (MRD) to actively growing recurrence. Screening for this innate response predicted accurately in which mice recurrence would occur. Premature induction of recurrence resensitized MRD to the primary therapy, suggesting a possible paradigm shift for clinical treatment of dormant disease in which the current expectant approach is replaced with active attempts to uncover MRD before evolution of the escape phenotype is complete. By combining screening with second-line treatments targeting innate insensitivity, up to 100% of mice that would have otherwise relapsed were cured. These data may open new avenues for early detection and appropriately timed, highly targeted treatment of tumor recurrence irrespective of tumor type or frontline treatment.
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Atherton MJ, Lichty BD. Evolution of oncolytic viruses: novel strategies for cancer treatment. Immunotherapy 2013; 5:1191-206. [DOI: 10.2217/imt.13.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Many viruses have documented oncolytic activity, with the first evidence observed clinically over a decade ago. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the field of oncolytic viruses. Viruses may be innately oncotropic, lacking the ability to cause disease in people or they may require engineering to allow selective tumor targeting and attenuation of pathogenicity. Following infection of a neoplastic cell, several events may occur, including direct viral oncolysis, apoptosis, necrotic cell death and autophagic cellular demise. Of late, a large body of work has recognized the ability of oncolytic viruses (OVs) to activate the innate and adaptive immune system, as well as directly killing tumors. The production of viruses expressing transgenes encoding for cytokines, colony-stimulating factors, costimulatory molecules and tumor-associated antigens has been able to further incite immune responses against target tumors. Multiple OVs are now in the advanced stages of clinical trials, with several individual viruses having completed their respective trials with positive results. This review introduces the multiple mechanisms by which OVs are able to act as an antineoplastic therapy, either on their own or in combination with other more traditional treatment modalities. The full benefit and the place where OVs will be integrated into standard-of-care therapies will be determined with ongoing studies ranging from the laboratory to the patient. With various different viruses now in the clinic this therapeutic option is beginning to prove its worth, and the versatility of these agents means further innovative and novel applications will continue to be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Atherton
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
| | - Brian D Lichty
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street W, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4K1
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Bartlett DL, Liu Z, Sathaiah M, Ravindranathan R, Guo Z, He Y, Guo ZS. Oncolytic viruses as therapeutic cancer vaccines. Mol Cancer 2013; 12:103. [PMID: 24020520 PMCID: PMC3847443 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-12-103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are tumor-selective, multi-mechanistic antitumor agents. They kill infected cancer and associated endothelial cells via direct oncolysis, and uninfected cells via tumor vasculature targeting and bystander effect. Multimodal immunogenic cell death (ICD) together with autophagy often induced by OVs not only presents potent danger signals to dendritic cells but also efficiently cross-present tumor-associated antigens from cancer cells to dendritic cells to T cells to induce adaptive antitumor immunity. With this favorable immune backdrop, genetic engineering of OVs and rational combinations further potentiate OVs as cancer vaccines. OVs armed with GM-CSF (such as T-VEC and Pexa-Vec) or other immunostimulatory genes, induce potent anti-tumor immunity in both animal models and human patients. Combination with other immunotherapy regimens improve overall therapeutic efficacy. Coadministration with a HDAC inhibitor inhibits innate immunity transiently to promote infection and spread of OVs, and significantly enhances anti-tumor immunity and improves the therapeutic index. Local administration or OV mediated-expression of ligands for Toll-like receptors can rescue the function of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells inhibited by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and thus enhances the antitumor effect. Combination with cyclophosphamide further induces ICD, depletes Treg, and thus potentiates antitumor immunity. In summary, OVs properly armed or in rational combinations are potent therapeutic cancer vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- David L Bartlett
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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Bailey K, Kirk A, Naik S, Nace R, Steele MB, Suksanpaisan L, Li X, Federspiel MJ, Peng KW, Kirk D, Russell SJ. Mathematical model for radial expansion and conflation of intratumoral infectious centers predicts curative oncolytic virotherapy parameters. PLoS One 2013; 8:e73759. [PMID: 24040057 PMCID: PMC3770695 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2013] [Accepted: 07/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple, inductive mathematical models of oncolytic virotherapy are needed to guide protocol design and improve treatment outcomes. Analysis of plasmacytomas regressing after a single intravenous dose of oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus in myeloma animal models revealed that intratumoral virus spread was spatially constrained, occurring almost exclusively through radial expansion of randomly distributed infectious centers. From these experimental observations we developed a simple model to calculate the probability of survival for any cell within a treated tumor. The model predicted that small changes to the density of initially infected cells or to the average maximum radius of infected centers would have a major impact on treatment outcome, and this was confirmed experimentally. The new model provides a useful and flexible tool for virotherapy protocol optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kent Bailey
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Amber Kirk
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Center for Translational Science Activities, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Shruthi Naik
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Nace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Michael B. Steele
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Lukkana Suksanpaisan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Xing Li
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Mark J. Federspiel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Kah-Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - David Kirk
- Consulpack, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus in an immunocompetent model of MUC1-positive or MUC1-null pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. J Virol 2013; 87:10283-94. [PMID: 23864625 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01412-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a promising oncolytic agent against various malignancies. Here, for the first time, we tested VSV in vitro and in vivo in a clinically relevant, immunocompetent mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). Our system allows the study of virotherapy against PDA in the context of overexpression (80% of PDA patients) or no expression of human mucin 1 (MUC1), a major marker for poor prognosis in patients. In vitro, we tested three VSV recombinants, wild-type VSV, VSV-green fluorescent protein (VSV-GFP), and a safe oncolytic VSV-ΔM51-GFP, against five mouse PDA cell lines that either expressed human MUC1 or were MUC1 null. All viruses demonstrated significant oncolytic abilities independent of MUC1 expression, although VSV-ΔM51-GFP was somewhat less effective in two PDA cell lines. In vivo administration of VSV-ΔM51-GFP resulted in significant reduction of tumor growth for tested mouse PDA xenografts (+MUC1 or MUC1 null), and antitumor efficacy was further improved when the virus was combined with the chemotherapeutic drug gemcitabine. The antitumor effect was transient in all tested groups. The developed system can be used to study therapies involving various oncolytic viruses and chemotherapeutics, with the goal of inducing tumor-specific immunity while preventing premature virus clearance.
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