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Schrauf S, Tomberger Y, Nambulli S, Duprex WP, Tschismarov R, Tauber E, Ramsauer K. Biodistribution and toxicology evaluation of a recombinant measles Schwarz-based Lassa vaccine in cynomolgus macaques. J Appl Toxicol 2023; 43:719-733. [PMID: 36480160 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
MV-LASV is an investigational measles Schwarz-based vaccine for the prevention of Lassa fever. A repeated-dose toxicity study in cynomolgus macaques was performed to assess the biodistribution and local and systemic toxicological effects. Monkeys received three immunizations of MV-LASV or saline intramuscularly with a 2-week interval. An increase in anti-measles antibodies confirmed the reaction of the immune system to the vaccine backbone. Clinical observations, body weight, body temperature, local tolerance, electrocardiogram parameters, various clinical pathology parameters (hematology, coagulation urinalysis, serum chemistry, and C-reactive protein) were monitored. Gross pathology and histopathology of various tissues were evaluated. MV-LASV induced a mild increase in fibrinogen and C-reactive protein concentrations. This coincided with microscopic inflammation at the injection sites which partially or fully resolved following a 3-week recovery period. Viral RNA was found in secondary lymphoid organs and injection sites and gall bladder. No viral shedding to the environment was observed. Overall, the vaccine was locally and systemically well tolerated, supporting a first-in-human study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Schrauf
- Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Yvonne Tomberger
- Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Sham Nambulli
- Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - W Paul Duprex
- Center for Vaccine Research, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Roland Tschismarov
- Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Erich Tauber
- Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Katrin Ramsauer
- Themis Bioscience GmbH, Vienna, Austria, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, New Jersey, USA
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2
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Viker KB, Steele MB, Iankov ID, Concilio SC, Ammayappan A, Bolon B, Jenks NJ, Goetz MP, Panagioti E, Federspiel MJ, Liu MC, Peng KW, Galanis E. Preclinical safety assessment of MV-s-NAP, a novel oncolytic measles virus strain armed with an H . pylori immunostimulatory bacterial transgene. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:532-546. [PMID: 36092362 PMCID: PMC9437807 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent therapeutic advances, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remains incurable. Engineered measles virus (MV) constructs based on the attenuated MV Edmonston vaccine platform have demonstrated significant oncolytic activity against solid tumors. The Helicobacter pylori neutrophil-activating protein (NAP) is responsible for the robust inflammatory reaction in gastroduodenal mucosa during bacterial infection. NAP attracts and activates immune cells at the site of infection, inducing expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. We engineered an MV strain to express the secretory form of NAP (MV-s-NAP) and showed that it exhibits anti-tumor and immunostimulatory activity in human breast cancer xenograft models. In this study, we utilized a measles-infection-permissive mouse model (transgenic IFNAR KO-CD46Ge) to evaluate the biodistribution and safety of MV-s-NAP. The primary objective was to identify potential toxic side effects and confirm the safety of the proposed clinical doses of MV-s-NAP prior to a phase I clinical trial of intratumoral administration of MV-s-NAP in patients with MBC. Both subcutaneous delivery (corresponding to the clinical trial intratumoral administration route) and intravenous (worst case scenario) delivery of MV-s-NAP were well tolerated: no significant clinical, laboratory or histologic toxicity was observed. This outcome supports the safety of MV-s-NAP for oncolytic virotherapy of MBC. The first-in-human clinical trial of MV-s-NAP in patients with MBC (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04521764) was subsequently activated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly B. Viker
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Michael B. Steele
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Ianko D. Iankov
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Arun Ammayappan
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Nathan J. Jenks
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Eleni Panagioti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | | | - Minetta C. Liu
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Kah Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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3
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Plesker R, Hintereder G. Spontaneous (Hashimoto-like) chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis in a rhesus macaque ( Macaca mulatta). Primate Biol 2021; 8:37-42. [PMID: 34109266 PMCID: PMC8182663 DOI: 10.5194/pb-8-37-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A case of a female, 10-year-old rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) with spontaneous
chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis is presented. At necropsy, the thyroid gland
was slightly enlarged, with up to 2 mm large, round, confluent, beige foci
on the surface of both lobes. Histopathologic features resembled human
Hashimoto's thyroiditis: multifocally, the interstitium was infiltrated by
lymphocytes and variably sized lymphoid follicles. In the pituitary gland,
there were increased numbers of large, basophilic cells throughout the
adenohypophysis. Using a human electrochemiluminescence immunoassay
(ECLIA), no autoantibodies against thyroglobulin, thyroid peroxidase, or
thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor were detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland Plesker
- Central Animal Unit, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
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4
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Measles Virus as an Oncolytic Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13030544. [PMID: 33535479 PMCID: PMC7867054 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13030544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Measles virus (MeV) preferentially replicates in malignant cells, leading to tumor lysis and priming of antitumor immunity. Live attenuated MeV vaccine strains are therefore under investigation as cancer therapeutics. The versatile MeV reverse genetics systems allows for engineering of advanced targeted, armed, and shielded oncolytic viral vectors. Therapeutic efficacy can further be enhanced by combination treatments. An emerging focus in this regard is combination immunotherapy, especially with immune checkpoint blockade. Despite challenges arising from antiviral immunity, availability of preclinical models, and GMP production, early clinical trials have demonstrated safety of oncolytic MeV and yielded promising efficacy data. Future clinical trials with engineered viruses, rational combination regimens, and comprehensive translational research programs will realize the potential of oncolytic immunotherapy.
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5
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Mühlebach MD. Measles virus in cancer therapy. Curr Opin Virol 2020; 41:85-97. [PMID: 32861945 DOI: 10.1016/j.coviro.2020.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Over the last years, the development of viruses to treat cancer patients has re-gained considerable attention. A genetically modified herpesvirus, Talimogene laherparepvec, has already been authorized for the treatment of melanoma patients. Also recombinant measles virus (MeV) is developed as an oncolytic virus. Because of its high genetic flexibility, a number of different MeV strains have been the basis for the generation of targeted, armed, or shielded viruses that are highly specific for a given tumor target, more effective, or protected against serum neutralization. Such MeV have been extensively tested in vitro and in vivo, whereby remarkable oncolytic potency is accompanied by safety also in non-human primates. Therefore, MeV has been introduced into 19 different clinical trials and has reached phase II against two different tumor entities, multiple myeloma and ovarian carcinoma. Remarkably, one patient with advanced stage myeloma experienced long-term remission after treatment, visualizing the potency of this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Mühlebach
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Paul-Ehrlich-Strasse 51-59, D-63225 Langen, Germany.
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6
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Ungerechts G, Engeland CE, Buchholz CJ, Eberle J, Fechner H, Geletneky K, Holm PS, Kreppel F, Kühnel F, Lang KS, Leber MF, Marchini A, Moehler M, Mühlebach MD, Rommelaere J, Springfeld C, Lauer UM, Nettelbeck DM. Virotherapy Research in Germany: From Engineering to Translation. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 28:800-819. [PMID: 28870120 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy is a unique modality for the treatment of cancer with oncolytic viruses (OVs) that selectively infect and lyse tumor cells, spread within tumors, and activate anti-tumor immunity. Various viruses are being developed as OVs preclinically and clinically, several of them engineered to encode therapeutic proteins for tumor-targeted gene therapy. Scientists and clinicians in German academia have made significant contributions to OV research and development, which are highlighted in this review paper. Innovative strategies for "shielding," entry or postentry targeting, and "arming" of OVs have been established, focusing on adenovirus, measles virus, parvovirus, and vaccinia virus platforms. Thereby, new-generation virotherapeutics have been derived. Moreover, immunotherapeutic properties of OVs and combination therapies with pharmacotherapy, radiotherapy, and especially immunotherapy have been investigated and optimized. German investigators are increasingly assessing their OV innovations in investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical trials. As a prototype, parvovirus has been tested as an OV from preclinical proof-of-concept up to first-in-human clinical studies. The approval of the first OV in the Western world, T-VEC (Imlygic), has further spurred the involvement of investigators in Germany in international multicenter studies. With the encouraging developments in funding, commercialization, and regulatory procedures, more German engineering will be translated into OV clinical trials in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guy Ungerechts
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany .,3 Centre for Innovative Cancer Research, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute , Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christine E Engeland
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian J Buchholz
- 4 Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany .,5 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), partner site Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Eberle
- 6 Charité -Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Dermatology, Skin Cancer Centre Charité , Berlin, Germany
| | - Henry Fechner
- 7 Technische Universität Berlin, Institute of Biotechnology , Department of Applied Biochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karsten Geletneky
- 8 Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum Darmstadt , Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Per Sonne Holm
- 9 Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University Munich , Munich, Germany
| | - Florian Kreppel
- 10 Chair of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Center for Biomedical Research and Education (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, University Witten/Herdecke (UW/H), Witten, Germany
| | - Florian Kühnel
- 11 Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Karl Sebastian Lang
- 12 Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen, Germany
| | - Mathias F Leber
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany .,2 Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Antonio Marchini
- 13 Department of Tumor Virology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany .,14 Laboratory of Oncolytic Virus Immuno-Therapeutics (LOVIT), Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), Strassen, Luxembourg
| | - Markus Moehler
- 15 University Medical Center Mainz , I. Dept. of Internal Medicine, Mainz, Germany
| | - Michael D Mühlebach
- 16 Product Testing of Immunological Veterinary Medicinal Products, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | - Jean Rommelaere
- 13 Department of Tumor Virology, Infection, Inflammation and Cancer Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Springfeld
- 1 Department of Medical Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and Heidelberg University Hospital , Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- 17 Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, Medical University Hospital , Tübingen, Germany .,18 German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), partner site Tübingen, Germany
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8
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Lal S, Peng KW, Steele MB, Jenks N, Ma H, Kohanbash G, Phillips JJ, Raffel C. Safety Study: Intraventricular Injection of a Modified Oncolytic Measles Virus into Measles-Immune, hCD46-Transgenic, IFNαRko Mice. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2016; 27:145-151. [PMID: 27604429 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2016.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The modified Edmonston vaccine strain of measles virus (MV) has shown potent oncolytic efficacy against various tumor types and is being investigated in clinical trials. Our laboratory showed that MV effectively kills medulloblastoma tumor cells in both localized disease and when tumor cells are disseminated through cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Although the safety of repeated intracerebral injection of modified MV in rhesus macaques has been established, the safety of administering MV into CSF has not been adequately investigated. In this study, we assessed the safety of MV-NIS (MV modified to express the human sodium iodide symporter protein) injected into the CSF of measles-immunized and measles virus-susceptible transgenic (CD46, IFNαRko) mice. Treated animals were administered a single intraventricular injection of 1 × 105 or 1 × 106 TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective dose) of MV-NIS. Detailed clinical observation was performed over a 90-day period. Clinically, we did not observe any measles-related toxic effects or behavioral abnormality in animals of any treated cohort. The complete blood count and blood chemistry analysis results were found to be within normal range for all the cohorts. Histologic examination of brains and spinal cords revealed inflammatory changes, mostly related to the needle track; these resolved by day 21 postinjection. To assess viral biodistribution, quantitative RT-PCR to detect the measles virus N-protein was performed on blood and brain samples. Viral RNA was not detectable in the blood as soon as 2 days after injection, and virus cleared from the brain by 45 days postadministration in all treatment cohorts. In conclusion, our data suggest that a single injection of modified MV into the CSF is safe and can be used in future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeet Lal
- 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Kah-Whye Peng
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Michael B Steele
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Nathan Jenks
- 2 Department of Molecular Medicine, Toxicology and Pharmacology Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Hong Ma
- 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Gary Kohanbash
- 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Joanna J Phillips
- 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Corey Raffel
- 1 Department of Neurological Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California , San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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9
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Oncolysis by paramyxoviruses: preclinical and clinical studies. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2015; 2:S2372-7705(16)30019-5. [PMID: 26640815 PMCID: PMC4667943 DOI: 10.1038/mto.2015.17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Preclinical studies demonstrate that a broad spectrum of human malignant cells can be killed by oncolytic paramyxoviruses, which include cells of ecto-, endo-, and mesodermal origin. In clinical trials, significant reduction in size or even complete elimination of primary tumors and established metastases are reported. Different routes of viral administration (intratumoral, intravenous, intradermal, intraperitoneal, or intrapleural), and single- versus multiple-dose administration schemes have been explored. The reported side effects are grade 1 and 2, with the most common among them being mild fever. Some advantages in using paramyxoviruses as oncolytic agents versus representatives of other viral families exist. The cytoplasmic replication results in a lack of host genome integration and recombination, which makes paramyxoviruses safer and more attractive candidates for widely used therapeutic oncolysis in comparison with retroviruses or some DNA viruses. The list of oncolytic paramyxovirus representatives includes attenuated measles virus (MV), mumps virus (MuV), low pathogenic Newcastle disease (NDV), and Sendai (SeV) viruses. Metastatic cancer cells frequently overexpress on their surface some molecules that can serve as receptors for MV, MuV, NDV, and SeV. This promotes specific viral attachment to the malignant cell, which is frequently followed by specific viral replication. The paramyxoviruses are capable of inducing efficient syncytium-mediated lyses of cancer cells and elicit strong immunomodulatory effects that dramatically enforce anticancer immune surveillance. In general, preclinical studies and phase 1–3 clinical trials yield very encouraging results and warrant continued research of oncolytic paramyxoviruses as a particularly valuable addition to the existing panel of cancer-fighting approaches.
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Ruf B, Berchtold S, Venturelli S, Burkard M, Smirnow I, Prenzel T, Henning SW, Lauer UM. Combination of the oral histone deacetylase inhibitor resminostat with oncolytic measles vaccine virus as a new option for epi-virotherapeutic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2015; 2:15019. [PMID: 27119111 PMCID: PMC4782956 DOI: 10.1038/mto.2015.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic therapies such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) not only have the capability to decrease tumor cell proliferation and to induce tumor cell death but also to silence antiviral response genes. Here, we investigated whether the combination of an oncolytic measles vaccine virus (MeV) with the novel oral HDACi resminostat (Res), being in clinical testing in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), results in an enhanced efficacy of this epi-virotherapeutic approach compared to any of the two corresponding monotherapies. When testing a panel of human hepatoma cell lines, we found (i) a significantly improved rate of primary infections when using oncolytic MeV under concurrent treatment with resminostat, (ii) a boosted cytotoxic effect of the epi-virotherapeutic combination (Res + MeV) with enhanced induction of apoptosis, and, quite importantly, (iii) an absence of any resminostat-induced impairment of MeV replication and spread. Beyond that, we could also show that (iv) resminostat, after hepatoma cell stimulation with exogenous human interferon (IFN)-β, is able to prevent the induction of IFN-stimulated genes, such as IFIT-1. This finding outlines the possible impact of resminostat on cellular innate immunity, being instrumental in overcoming resistances to MeV-mediated viral oncolysis. Thus, our results support the onset of epi-virotherapeutic clinical trials in patients exhibiting advanced stages of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ruf
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sascha Venturelli
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Markus Burkard
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
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Yurttas C, Berchtold S, Malek NP, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. Pulsed versus continuous application of the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine to enhance the oncolytic effectiveness of a measles vaccine virus armed with a suicide gene. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2015; 25:85-96. [PMID: 24933569 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2013.127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Oncolytic virotherapy with measles vaccine virus (MeV) already has been demonstrated to be safe. However, early clinical results pointed out the necessity for an enhancement of oncolytic effectiveness of MeV-based virotherapeutics. In our work, we are developing an armed measles vaccine virus (MeV-SCD) encoding a suicide fusion gene of yeast cytosine deaminase/uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, converting the nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). To preclinically investigate what an optimal prodrug-assisted therapeutic regimen might look like, we added 5-FC at various time points after infection with MeV-SCD and either let the prodrug remain in the tumor cell culture medium continuously for various time periods ("continuous" 5-FC application) or applied it only temporarily for defined shorter periods of time ("pulsed" 5-FC application); we also varied the time point at which 5-FC was added after infection with MeV-SCD. As a result, addition of the prodrug at early times postinfection (e.g., at 3 hr postinfection) was found to be inferior concerning the overall oncolytic effectiveness when compared with addition of 5-FC at later time points (e.g., at 24 hr postinfection). Next, oncolytic effectiveness was found to correlate positively with the overall duration of incubation of MeV-infected tumor cells with 5-FC. Of note, this was true despite our finding that addition of the prodrug could also exert an inhibitory effect on the generation of infectious progeny viral particles, that is, on virus replication. These findings should be helpful for the rational design of further trials (preclinical, clinical) using suicide gene armed virotherapeutics, such as MeV-SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Yurttas
- 1 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital Tübingen , D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
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12
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Viral oncolysis - can insights from measles be transferred to canine distemper virus? Viruses 2014; 6:2340-75. [PMID: 24921409 PMCID: PMC4074931 DOI: 10.3390/v6062340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2014] [Revised: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neoplastic diseases represent one of the most common causes of death among humans and animals. Currently available and applied therapeutic options often remain insufficient and unsatisfactory, therefore new and innovative strategies and approaches are highly needed. Periodically, oncolytic viruses have been in the center of interest since the first anecdotal description of their potential usefulness as an anti-tumor treatment concept. Though first reports referred to an incidental measles virus infection causing tumor regression in a patient suffering from lymphoma several decades ago, no final treatment concept has been developed since then. However, numerous viruses, such as herpes-, adeno- and paramyxoviruses, have been investigated, characterized, and modified with the aim to generate a new anti-cancer treatment option. Among the different viruses, measles virus still represents a highly interesting candidate for such an approach. Numerous different tumors of humans including malignant lymphoma, lung and colorectal adenocarcinoma, mesothelioma, and ovarian cancer, have been studied in vitro and in vivo as potential targets. Moreover, several concepts using different virus preparations are now in clinical trials in humans and may proceed to a new treatment option. Surprisingly, only few studies have investigated viral oncolysis in veterinary medicine. The close relationship between measles virus (MV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), both are morbilliviruses, and the fact that numerous tumors in dogs exhibit similarities to their human counterpart, indicates that both the virus and species dog represent a highly interesting translational model for future research in viral oncolysis. Several recent studies support such an assumption. It is therefore the aim of the present communication to outline the mechanisms of morbillivirus-mediated oncolysis and to stimulate further research in this potentially expanding field of viral oncolysis in a highly suitable translational animal model for the benefit of humans and dogs.
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Lange S, Lampe J, Bossow S, Zimmermann M, Neubert W, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. A novel armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma. Hum Gene Ther 2013; 24:554-64. [PMID: 23550539 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2012.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is curable only in early stages by complete surgical resection. Thus, in advanced disease stages in which a complete removal of the tumor mass is no longer possible and palliative chemotherapy achieves only modest success, therapeutics employing new methods of action are desperately needed. Oncolytic viruses employed in clinical studies have been shown to spread preferentially in cancer cells. Beyond that, virotherapeutic cell killing can be enhanced by virus-based expression of suicide genes. We engineered a measles vaccine virus (MeV) vector expressing super cytosine deaminase (SCD), a fusion protein of yeast cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyltransferase, which converts the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and subsequently to 5-fluorouridine-monophosphate. This novel vector was evaluated using three different human-derived CC cell lines. In vitro, all CC cell lines were found to be permissive to MeV infection. Partial blocking of MeV-mediated oncolysis could be overcome by employment of the SCD transgene together with administration of 5-FC. In vivo, intratumoral application of SCD-armed MeV together with a systemic 5-FC treatment showed a significant reduction in tumor size in a TFK-1 xenograft mouse model when compared with virus-only treatment. In a second animal experiment employing a HuCCT1 xenograft tumor model, an enhanced SCD-armed MeV vector, in which the SCD transgene was expressed from a different genomic position, led not only to reduced tumor volumes, but also to a significant survival benefit. On the basis of these encouraging preclinical data on employment of SCD-armed MeV for the virotherapeutic treatment of chemotherapy-resistant CC, a clinical virotherapy trial is set up currently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Lange
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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14
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Ortego J, de la Poza F, Marín-López A. Interferon α/β receptor knockout mice as a model to study bluetongue virus infection. Virus Res 2013; 182:35-42. [PMID: 24100234 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Revised: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 09/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Bluetongue is an arthropod-borne disease caused by a virus of the genus Orbivirus, the bluetongue virus (BTV), which affects ruminant livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats and wild ruminants such as deer, and camelids. Recently, adult mice with gene knockouts of the interferon α/β receptor (IFNAR-/-) have been described as a model of lethal BTV infection. IFNAR(-/-) mice are highly susceptible to BTV-1, BTV-4 and BTV-8 infection when the virus is administered intravenously or subcutaneosuly. Disease progression and pathogenesis closely mimics signs of bluetongue disease in ruminants. In the present paper we review the studies where IFNAR(-/-) mice have been used as an animal model to study BTV transmission, pathogenesis, virulence, and protective efficacy of inactivated and new recombinant marker BTV vaccines. Furthermore, we report new data on protective efficacy of different strategies of BTV vaccination and also on induction of interferon α/β and proinflammatory immune responses in IFNAR(-/-) mice infected with BTV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Ortego
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal, CISA-INIA, Valdeolmos, Madrid, Spain.
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