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Gujar S, Pol JG, Kumar V, Lizarralde-Guerrero M, Konda P, Kroemer G, Bell JC. Tutorial: design, production and testing of oncolytic viruses for cancer immunotherapy. Nat Protoc 2024:10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1. [PMID: 38769145 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) represent a novel class of cancer immunotherapy agents that preferentially infect and kill cancer cells and promote protective antitumor immunity. Furthermore, OVs can be used in combination with established or upcoming immunotherapeutic agents, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors, to efficiently target a wide range of malignancies. The development of OV-based therapy involves three major steps before clinical evaluation: design, production and preclinical testing. OVs can be designed as natural or engineered strains and subsequently selected for their ability to kill a broad spectrum of cancer cells rather than normal, healthy cells. OV selection is further influenced by multiple factors, such as the availability of a specific viral platform, cancer cell permissivity, the need for genetic engineering to render the virus non-pathogenic and/or more effective and logistical considerations around the use of OVs within the laboratory or clinical setting. Selected OVs are then produced and tested for their anticancer potential by using syngeneic, xenograft or humanized preclinical models wherein immunocompromised and immunocompetent setups are used to elucidate their direct oncolytic ability as well as indirect immunotherapeutic potential in vivo. Finally, OVs demonstrating the desired anticancer potential progress toward translation in patients with cancer. This tutorial provides guidelines for the design, production and preclinical testing of OVs, emphasizing considerations specific to OV technology that determine their clinical utility as cancer immunotherapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Jonathan G Pol
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Vishnupriyan Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Manuela Lizarralde-Guerrero
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Prathyusha Konda
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guido Kroemer
- INSERM, U1138, Paris, France.
- Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
- Sorbonne Université, Paris, France.
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, UMS AMICCa, Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France.
- Institut Universitaire de France, Paris, France.
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France.
| | - John C Bell
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
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Penza V, Maroun JW, Nace RA, Schulze AJ, Russell SJ. Polycytidine tract deletion from microRNA-detargeted oncolytic Mengovirus optimizes the therapeutic index in a murine multiple myeloma model. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 28:15-30. [PMID: 36619293 PMCID: PMC9800256 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Mengovirus is an oncolytic picornavirus whose broad host range allows for testing in immunocompetent cancer models. Two pathogenicity-ablating approaches, polycytidine (polyC) tract truncation and microRNA (miRNA) targets insertion, eliminated the risk of encephalomyocarditis. To investigate whether a polyC truncated, miRNA-detargeted oncolytic Mengovirus might be boosted, we partially or fully rebuilt the polyC tract into the 5' noncoding region (NCR) of polyC-deleted (MC0) oncolytic constructs (NC) carrying miRNA target (miRT) insertions to eliminate cardiac/muscular (miR-133b and miR-208a) and neuronal (miR-124) tropisms. PolyC-reconstituted viruses (MC24-NC and MC37-NC) replicated in vitro and showed the expected tropism restrictions, but reduced cytotoxicity and miRT deletions were frequently observed. In the MPC-11 immune competent mouse plasmacytoma model, both intratumoral and systemic administration of MC0-NC led to faster tumor responses than MC24-NC or MC37-NC, with combined durable complete response rates of 75%, 0.5%, and 30%, respectively. Secondary viremia was higher following MC0-NC versus MC24-NC or MC37-NC therapy. Sequence analysis of virus progeny from treated mice revealed a high prevalence of miRT sequences loss among MC24- and MC37- viral genomes, but not in MC0-NC. Overall, MC0-NC was capable of stably retaining miRT sites and provided a more effective treatment and is therefore our lead Mengovirus candidate for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velia Penza
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Justin W. Maroun
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Nace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Autumn J. Schulze
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Stephen J. Russell
- Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Zhang Y, Xu T, Tian H, Wu J, Yu X, Zeng L, Liu F, Liu Q, Huang X. Coxsackievirus Group B3 Has Oncolytic Activity against Colon Cancer through Gasdermin E-Mediated Pyroptosis. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14246206. [PMID: 36551691 PMCID: PMC9776948 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14246206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death, and there are few effective therapies for colon cancer. This study explored the use of coxsackievirus group B3 (CVB3) as an oncolytic virus for the treatment of colon cancer. In this study, we verified that CVB3 induces death of colon cancer cell lines by directly observing cell morphology and Western blot results, and observed the oncolytic effects of CVB3 by constructing an immunodeficient nude mice model. Our data show that CVB3 induces pyroptosis in colon cancer cell lines. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that CVB3 causes cleavage of gasdermin E (GSDME), but not gasdermin D (GSDMD), by activating caspase-3. This leads to production of GSDME N-termini and the development of pores in the plasma membrane, inducing pyroptosis of colon cancer cell lines. We also demonstrate that CVB3-induced pyroptosis is promoted by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, in vivo studies using immunodeficient nude mice revealed that intratumoral injection of CVB3 led to significant tumor regression. Our findings indicate that CVB3 has oncolytic activity in colon cancer cell lines via GSDME-mediated pyroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yejia Zhang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Tian Xu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Huizhen Tian
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Xiaomin Yu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Lingbing Zeng
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Fadi Liu
- The Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children’s Hospital of Jiangxi Province, Nanchang 330006, China
| | - Qiong Liu
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Correspondence: (Q.L.); (X.H.)
| | - Xiaotian Huang
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China
- Correspondence: (Q.L.); (X.H.)
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Suryawanshi YR, Nace RA, Russell SJ, Schulze AJ. MicroRNA-detargeting proves more effective than leader gene deletion for improving safety of oncolytic Mengovirus in a nude mouse model. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 23:1-13. [PMID: 34589580 PMCID: PMC8455367 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A dual microRNA-detargeted oncolytic Mengovirus, vMC24NC, proved highly effective against a murine plasmacytoma in an immunocompetent syngeneic mouse model; however, there remains the concern of escape mutant development and the potential for toxicity in severely immunocompromised cancer patients when it is used as an oncolytic virus. Therefore, we sought to compare the safety and efficacy profiles of an attenuated Mengovirus containing a virulence gene deletion versus vMC24NC in an immunodeficient xenograft mouse model of human glioblastoma. A Mengovirus construct, vMC24ΔL, wherein the gene coding for the leader protein, a virulence factor, was deleted, was used for comparison. The vMC24ΔL induced significant levels of toxicity following treatment of subcutaneous human glioblastoma (U87-MG) xenografts as well as when injected intracranially in athymic nude mice, reducing the overall survival. The in vivo toxicity of vMC24ΔL was associated with viral replication in nervous and cardiac tissue. In contrast, microRNA-detargeted vMC24NC demonstrated excellent efficacy against U87-MG subcutaneous xenografts and improved overall survival significantly compared to that of control mice without toxicity. These results reinforce microRNA-detargeting as an effective strategy for ameliorating unwanted toxicities of oncolytic picornaviruses and substantiate vMC24NC as an ideal candidate for clinical development against certain cancers in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh R. Suryawanshi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1 Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Rebecca A. Nace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1 Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Stephen J. Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1 Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Autumn J. Schulze
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 1 Street S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Cook J, Acosta-Medina AA, Peng KW, Lacy M, Russell S. Oncolytic virotherapy - Forging its place in the immunomodulatory paradigm for Multiple Myeloma. Cancer Treat Res Commun 2021; 29:100473. [PMID: 34673439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctarc.2021.100473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The treatment focus for multiple myeloma (MM) has recently pivoted towards immune modulating strategies, with T-cell redirection therapies currently at the forefront of drug development. Yet, despite this revolution in treatment, MM remains without a sustainable cure. At the same time, tremendous advancement has been made in recombinant and gene editing techniques for oncolytic viruses (OV), which have increased their tumor specificity, improved safety, and enhanced the oncolytic and immunostimulatory potential. These breakthrough developments in oncolytic virotherapy have opened new avenues for OVs to be used in combination with other immune-based therapies such as checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) and bispecific T-cell engagers. In this review, the authors place the spotlight on systemic oncolytic virotherapy as an adaptable immunotherapeutic for MM, highlight the unique mechanism of OVs in activating the immune-suppressive marrow microenvironment, and lastly showcase the OV platforms and the promising combination strategies in the pipeline for MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joselle Cook
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, United States.
| | | | - Kah Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN , United States
| | - Martha Lacy
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, United States
| | - Stephen Russell
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, United States; Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN , United States
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Oncolytic Virotherapy for Melanoma Brain Metastases, a Potential New Treatment Paradigm? Brain Sci 2021; 11:brainsci11101260. [PMID: 34679325 PMCID: PMC8534242 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci11101260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Melanoma brain metastases remain a devastating disease process with poor prognosis. Recently, there has been a surge in studies demonstrating the efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy for brain tumor treatment. Given their specificity and amenability to genetic modification, the authors explore the possible role of oncolytic virotherapy as a potential treatment option for patients with melanoma brain metastases. METHODS A comprehensive literature review including both preclinical and clinical evidence of oncolytic virotherapy for the treatment of melanoma brain metastasis was performed. RESULTS Oncolytic virotherapy, specifically T-VEC (Imlygic™), was approved for the treatment of melanoma in 2015. Recent clinical trials demonstrate promising anti-tumor changes in patients who have received T-VEC; however, there is little evidence for its use in metastatic brain disease based on the existing literature. To date, only two single cases utilizing virotherapy in patients with metastatic brain melanoma have been reported, specifically in patients with treatment refractory disease. Currently, there is not sufficient data to support the use of T-VEC or other viruses for intracranial metastatic melanoma. In developing a virotherapy treatment paradigm for melanoma brain metastases, several factors must be considered, including route of administration, need to bypass the blood-brain barrier, viral tumor infectivity, and risk of adverse events. CONCLUSIONS Evidence for oncolytic virotherapy treatment of melanoma is limited primarily to T-VEC, with a noticeable paucity of data in the literature with respect to brain tumor metastasis. Given the promising findings of virotherapy for other brain tumor types, oncolytic virotherapy has great potential to offer benefits to patients afflicted with melanoma brain metastases and warrants further investigation.
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Sarwar A, Hashim L, Faisal MS, Haider MZ, Ahmed Z, Ahmed TF, Shahzad M, Ansar I, Ali S, Aslam MM, Anwer F. Advances in viral oncolytics for treatment of multiple myeloma - a focused review. Expert Rev Hematol 2021; 14:1071-1083. [PMID: 34428997 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2021.1972802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Oncolytic viruses are genetically engineered viruses that target myeloma-affected cells by detecting specific cell surface receptors (CD46, CD138), causing cell death by activating the signaling pathway to induce apoptosis or by immune-mediated cellular destruction. AREAS COVERED This article summarizes oncolytic virotherapy advancements such as the therapeutic use of viruses by targeting cell surface proteins of myeloma cells as well as the carriers to deliver viruses to the target tissues safely. The major classes of viruses that have been studied for this include measles, myxoma, adenovirus, reovirus, vaccinia, vesicular-stomatitis virus, coxsackie, and others. The measles virus acts as oncolytic viral therapy by binding to the CD46 receptors on the myeloma cells to utilize its surface H protein. These H-protein and CD46 interactions lead to cellular syncytia formation resulting in cellular apoptosis. Vesicular-stomatitis virus acts by downregulation of anti-apoptotic factors (Mcl-2, BCL-2). Based upon the published literature searches till December 2020, we have summarized the data supporting the advances in viral oncolytic for the treatment of MM. EXPERT OPINION Oncolytic virotherapy is an experimental approach in multiple myeloma (MM); many issues need to be addressed for safe viral delivery to the target tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayesha Sarwar
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Salman Faisal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology, The Ohio State University Columbus Oh, USA
| | | | - Zahoor Ahmed
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Tehniat Faraz Ahmed
- Department of Biochemistry, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Moazzam Shahzad
- Department of Internal Medicine, St Mary's Medical Center, Huntington, WV, USA
| | - Iqraa Ansar
- Department of Internal medicine, Riverside Methodist hospital, Columbus OH
| | - Sundas Ali
- Department of Internal medicine, Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
| | | | - Faiz Anwer
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Taussig Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, USA
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Penza V, Russell SJ, Schulze AJ. The long-lasting enigma of polycytidine (polyC) tract. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009739. [PMID: 34347852 PMCID: PMC8336851 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Long polycytidine (polyC) tracts varying in length from 50 to 400 nucleotides were first described in the 5'-noncoding region (NCR) of genomes of picornaviruses belonging to the Cardio- and Aphthovirus genera over 50 years ago, but the molecular basis of their function is still unknown. Truncation or complete deletion of the polyC tracts in picornaviruses compromises virulence and pathogenicity but do not affect replicative fitness in vitro, suggesting a role as "viral security" RNA element. The evidence available suggests that the presence of a long polyC tract is required for replication in immune cells, which impacts viral distribution and targeting, and, consequently, pathogenic progression. Viral attenuation achieved by reduction of the polyC tract length has been successfully used for vaccine strategies. Further elucidation of the role of the polyC tract in viral replication cycle and its connection with replication in immune cells has the potential to expand the arsenal of tools in the fight against cancer in oncolytic virotherapy (OV). Here, we review the published data on the biological significance and mechanisms of action of the polyC tract in viral pathogenesis in Cardio- and Aphthoviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Velia Penza
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Stephen J. Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Autumn J. Schulze
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, United States of America
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Oncolytic Viruses for Malignant Glioma: On the Verge of Success? Viruses 2021; 13:v13071294. [PMID: 34372501 PMCID: PMC8310195 DOI: 10.3390/v13071294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is one of the most difficult tumor types to treat with conventional therapy options like tumor debulking and chemo- and radiotherapy. Immunotherapeutic agents like oncolytic viruses, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and chimeric antigen receptor T cells have revolutionized cancer therapy, but their success in glioblastoma remains limited and further optimization of immunotherapies is needed. Several oncolytic viruses have demonstrated the ability to infect tumors and trigger anti-tumor immune responses in malignant glioma patients. Leading the pack, oncolytic herpesvirus, first in its class, awaits an approval for treating malignant glioma from MHLW, the federal authority of Japan. Nevertheless, some major hurdles like the blood–brain barrier, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, and tumor heterogeneity can engender suboptimal efficacy in malignant glioma. In this review, we discuss the current status of malignant glioma therapies with a focus on oncolytic viruses in clinical trials. Furthermore, we discuss the obstacles faced by oncolytic viruses in malignant glioma patients and strategies that are being used to overcome these limitations to (1) optimize delivery of oncolytic viruses beyond the blood–brain barrier; (2) trigger inflammatory immune responses in and around tumors; and (3) use multimodal therapies in combination to tackle tumor heterogeneity, with an end goal of optimizing the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Chianese A, Santella B, Ambrosino A, Stelitano D, Rinaldi L, Galdiero M, Zannella C, Franci G. Oncolytic Viruses in Combination Therapeutic Approaches with Epigenetic Modulators: Past, Present, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13112761. [PMID: 34199429 PMCID: PMC8199618 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13112761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cancer rates have been accelerating significantly in recent years. Despite notable advances having been made in cancer therapy, and numerous studies being currently conducted in clinical trials, research is always looking for new treatment. Novel and promising anticancer therapies comprise combinations of oncolytic viruses and epigenetic modulators, including chromatin modifiers, such as DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylases, and microRNA. Combinatorial treatments have several advantages: they enhance viral entry, replication, and spread between proximal cells and, moreover, they strengthen the immune response. In this review we summarize the main combination of therapeutic approaches, giving an insight into past, present, and future perspectives. Abstract According to the World Cancer Report, cancer rates have been increased by 50% with 15 million new cases in the year 2020. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the only one of the most common tumors to cause a huge increase in mortality with a survival rate between 40% and 70% at 5 years, due to the high relapse and limitations associated with current therapies. Despite great progress in medicine, oncological research is always looking for new therapies: different technologies have been evaluated in clinical trials and others have been already used in clinics. Among them, oncolytic virotherapy represents a therapeutic option with a widespread possibility of approaches and applications. Oncolytic viruses are naturally occurring, or are engineered, viruses characterized by the unique features of preferentially infecting, replicating, and lysing malignant tumor cells, as well as activating the immune response. The combination of oncolytic virotherapy and chemical drugs are arousing great interest in the tumor treatment. In this scenario, novel and promising anticancer therapies comprise combinations of oncolytic viruses and epigenetic modulators or inhibitors of the signalling pathways. Combination treatments are required to improve the immune response and allow viral entry, replication, and diffusion between proximal cells. In this review, we summarize all combination therapies associated with virotherapy, including co-administered inhibitors of chromatin modifiers (combination strategies) and inserted target sites for miRNAs (recombination or arming strategies).
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (A.A.); (D.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Biagio Santella
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Annalisa Ambrosino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (A.A.); (D.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Debora Stelitano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (A.A.); (D.S.); (M.G.)
| | - Luca Rinaldi
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (A.A.); (D.S.); (M.G.)
- Section of Microbiology and Virology, University Hospital “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.C.); (A.A.); (D.S.); (M.G.)
- Correspondence: (C.Z.); (G.F.)
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.Z.); (G.F.)
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Geisler A, Hazini A, Heimann L, Kurreck J, Fechner H. Coxsackievirus B3-Its Potential as an Oncolytic Virus. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050718. [PMID: 33919076 PMCID: PMC8143167 DOI: 10.3390/v13050718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy represents one of the most advanced strategies to treat otherwise untreatable types of cancer. Despite encouraging developments in recent years, the limited fraction of patients responding to therapy has demonstrated the need to search for new suitable viruses. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a promising novel candidate with particularly valuable features. Its entry receptor, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), and heparan sulfate, which is used for cellular entry by some CVB3 variants, are highly expressed on various cancer types. Consequently, CVB3 has broad anti-tumor activity, as shown in various xenograft and syngeneic mouse tumor models. In addition to direct tumor cell killing the virus induces a strong immune response against the tumor, which contributes to a substantial increase in the efficiency of the treatment. The toxicity of oncolytic CVB3 in healthy tissues is variable and depends on the virus strain. It can be abrogated by genetic engineering the virus with target sites of microRNAs. In this review, we present an overview of the current status of the development of CVB3 as an oncolytic virus and outline which steps still need to be accomplished to develop CVB3 as a therapeutic agent for clinical use in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Geisler
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK;
| | - Lisanne Heimann
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Henry Fechner
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-31-47-21-81
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12
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Hazini A, Dieringer B, Pryshliak M, Knoch KP, Heimann L, Tolksdorf B, Pappritz K, El-Shafeey M, Solimena M, Beling A, Kurreck J, Klingel K, Fechner H. miR-375- and miR-1-Regulated Coxsackievirus B3 Has No Pancreas and Heart Toxicity But Strong Antitumor Efficiency in Colorectal Carcinomas. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:216-230. [PMID: 33481658 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) has strong oncolytic activity in colorectal carcinoma but it also infects the pancreas and the heart. To improve the safety of the virus, here we investigated whether pancreas and cardiac toxicity can be prevented by insertion of target sites (TS), which are complementary to miR-375 and miR-1 into the viral genome. Although miR-375 and miR-1 are abundantly expressed in the pancreas and in the heart, respectively, their expression levels are low in colorectal carcinomas, which allows the carcinomas to be selectively attacked. To investigate the importance of the microRNAs, two viruses were engineered, H3N-375TS containing only miR-375TS and H3N-375/1TS containing miR-375TS and miR-1TS. In vitro, both viruses replicated in and lysed colorectal carcinoma cells, similar to a nontargeted control virus H3N-39TS, whereas they were strongly attenuated in cell lines transiently or endogenously expressing the corresponding microRNAs. In vivo, the control virus H3N-39TS induced strong infection of the pancreas and the heart, which led to fatal disease within 4 days after a single intratumoral virus injection in mice xenografted with colorectal DLD-1 cell tumors. In contrast, three intratumoral injections of H3N-375TS or H3N-375/1TS failed to induce virus-induced sickness. In the animals, both viruses were completely ablated from the pancreas and H3N-375/1TS was also ablated from the heart, whereas the cardiac titers of H3N-375TS were strongly reduced. Long-term investigations of the DLD-1 tumor model confirmed lack of virus-induced adverse effects in H3N-375TS- and H3N-375/1TS-treated mice. There was no mortality, and the pancreas and the heart were free of pathological alterations. Regarding the therapeutic efficiency, the treated animals showed high and long-lasting H3N-375TS and H3N-375/1TS persistence in the tumor and significantly slower tumor growth. These data demonstrate that miR-375- and miR-1-mediated virus detargeting from the pancreas and heart is a highly effective strategy to prevent toxicity of oncolytic CVB3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Babette Dieringer
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Markian Pryshliak
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus-Peter Knoch
- Molecular Diabetology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Lisanne Heimann
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Beatrice Tolksdorf
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathleen Pappritz
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies & Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK), Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Muhammad El-Shafeey
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies & Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies (BCRT), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK), Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Medical Biotechnology Research Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Michele Solimena
- Molecular Diabetology, University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus and Faculty of Medicine of the TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V.), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Antje Beling
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Institute of Biochemistry, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin Klingel
- Cardiopathology, Institute for Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Henry Fechner
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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13
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Lai Y, Jin Q, Zhu F. Differential expression of microRNAs in mud crab Scylla paramamosain in response to white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) infection. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 105:1-7. [PMID: 32619629 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.06.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Till date numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) have been discovered from various organisms, including fish, shellfish and crustaceans. The miRNAs are known to regulate immune functions in crustaceans, but little is known about the role of miRNAs against viral infection in crab. We performed small RNA sequencing to characterize the differentially expressed miRNAs in WSSV infected Scylla paramamosain, in comparison to that in uninfected crab, at 2 h and 12 h post infection. In total, 24 host miRNAs were up-regulated and 25 host miRNAs were down-regulated in response to WSSV infection at 2 h post infection. And 27 host miRNAs were up-regulated and 30 host miRNAs were down-regulated in response to WSSV infection at 12 h post infection. Further, the gene ontology analysis revealed that many signaling pathways were mediated by these miRNAs. The integral component of membrane is the most important biological process and endocytosis pathway is the most important pathway, which indicates that endocytosis is very important for WSSV infection. This study is one important attempt at characterizing crab miRNAs that response to WSSV infection, and will help unravel the miRNA pathways involved in antiviral immunity of crab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyong Lai
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Qingri Jin
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Fei Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Applied Technology on Green-Eco-Healthy Animal Husbandry of Zhejiang Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, Hangzhou, 311300, China.
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14
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Maroun JW, Penza V, Weiskittel TM, Schulze AJ, Russell SJ. Collateral Lethal Effects of Complementary Oncolytic Viruses. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2020; 18:236-246. [PMID: 32728612 PMCID: PMC7369514 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Virus-infected cells release type 1 interferons, which induce an antiviral state in neighboring cells. Naturally occurring viruses are therefore equipped with stealth replication strategies to limit virus sensing and/or with combat strategies to prevent or reverse the antiviral state. Here we show that oncolytic viruses with simple RNA genomes whose spread was suppressed in tumor cells pretreated with interferon were able to replicate efficiently when the cells were coinfected with a poxvirus known to encode a diversity of innate immune combat proteins. In vivo the poxvirus was shown to reverse the intratumoral antiviral state, rescuing RNA virus replication in an otherwise restrictive syngeneic mouse tumor model leading to antitumor efficacy. Pairing of complementary oncolytic viruses is a promising strategy to enhance the antitumor activity of this novel class of anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin W Maroun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Velia Penza
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Taylor M Weiskittel
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program, Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Autumn J Schulze
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Stephen J Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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15
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Elsedawy NB, Nace RA, Russell SJ, Schulze AJ. Oncolytic Activity of Targeted Picornaviruses Formulated as Synthetic Infectious RNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2020; 17:484-495. [PMID: 32529026 PMCID: PMC7276391 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Infectious nucleic acid has been proposed as a superior formulation for oncolytic virus therapy. Oncolytic picornaviruses can be formulated as infectious RNA (iRNA), and their unwanted tropisms eliminated by microRNA (miRNA) detargeting. However, genomic insertion of miRNA target sequences into coxsackievirus A21 (CVA21) iRNA compromised its specific infectivity, negating further development as a novel oncolytic virus formulation. To address this limitation, we substituted a muscle-specific miRNA response element for the spacer region downstream of the internal ribosomal entry site in the 5′ non-coding region of CVA21 iRNA, thereby preserving genome length while avoiding the disruption of known surrounding RNA structural elements. This new iRNA (R-CVA21) retained high specific infectivity, rapidly generating replicating miRNA-detargeted viruses following transfection in H1-HeLa cells. Further, in contrast with alternatively configured iRNAs that were tested in parallel, intratumoral administration of R-CVA21 generated a spreading oncolytic infection that was curative in treated animals without associated myotoxicity. Moreover, R-CVA21 also exhibited superior miRNA response element stability in vivo. This novel formulation is a promising agent for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noura B Elsedawy
- Department of Molecule Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Rebecca A Nace
- Department of Molecule Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Stephen J Russell
- Department of Molecule Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
| | - Autumn J Schulze
- Department of Molecule Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
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16
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Schulze AJ. Insert Stability and In Vivo Testing of MicroRNA-Detargeted Oncolytic Picornaviruses. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2058:77-94. [PMID: 31486032 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9794-7_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Although a variety of oncolytic viruses under clinical investigation have proven to be safe, the overall efficacy of oncolytic viruses as monotherapies has been suboptimal. While responses to combination therapies are much more promising, the development of oncolytic virus monotherapies with enhanced potency is imperative. With this initiative comes the need for improved mechanisms of virus targeting to prevent off-target toxicities. MicroRNA-detargeting has emerged as an invaluable tool for preventing unwanted toxicities of oncolytic viruses, particularly for picornaviruses. Here we describe methods to test the genetic stability of microRNA response elements in vitro and to evaluate the detargeting efficiency and therapeutic index of a microRNA-detargeted picornavirus in vivo. Although the methods described herein are specific to picornaviruses, microRNA-detargeting and these assays can be adapted for different classes of oncolytic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Autumn J Schulze
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA.
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17
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Eckert EC, Nace RA, Tonne JM, Evgin L, Vile RG, Russell SJ. Generation of a Tumor-Specific Chemokine Gradient Using Oncolytic Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Encoding CXCL9. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 16:63-74. [PMID: 31930167 PMCID: PMC6951834 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genetically modified vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is an attractive agent for cancer treatment due to rapid intratumoral replication and observed clinical responses. Although VSV selectively kills malignant cells and can boost antitumor immunity, limited induction of intratumoral immune infiltration remains a barrier to efficacy in some cancer models. Here we engineered the oncolytic VSV platform to encode the T cell chemokine CXCL9, which is known to mediate the recruitment of activated CD8+ cytotoxic T cells and CD4+ T helper cells, and demonstrates conserved protein function between mice and humans. Chemotactic activity of the virally encoded chemokine was confirmed in vitro. Intratumoral concentration of CXCL9 was shown to increase after VSV therapy in three different cancer models, but to a much greater degree after VSV-CXCL9 therapy as compared with VSV control viruses. Despite a steep chemokine gradient from the tumor to the bloodstream, tumor trafficking of adoptively transferred and endogenous T cells was not measurably increased following VSV-CXCL9 therapy. Our results indicate that oncolytic VSV infection promotes release of CXCL9 in the tumor microenvironment, but further boosting of the functional chemokine gradient through virus engineering has little incremental impact on intratumoral immune cell infiltration in mouse and human tumor models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Eckert
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.,Clinical and Translational Science Track, Mayo Graduate School of Biomedical Science, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Rebecca A Nace
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Jason M Tonne
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, 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
| | - Stephen J Russell
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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18
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Pryshliak M, Hazini A, Knoch K, Dieringer B, Tolksdorf B, Solimena M, Kurreck J, Pinkert S, Fechner H. MiR‐375‐mediated suppression of engineered coxsackievirus B3 in pancreatic cells. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:763-775. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markian Pryshliak
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
| | - Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
| | - Klaus Knoch
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden Helmholtz Center Munich Faculty of Medicine University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden Germany
| | - Babette Dieringer
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
| | - Beatrice Tolksdorf
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
| | - Michele Solimena
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden Helmholtz Center Munich Faculty of Medicine University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Technische Universität Dresden Germany
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
| | - Sandra Pinkert
- Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) Institute of Biochemistry Charité ‐ Universitätsmedizin Berlin Humboldt‐Universität zu Berlin Germany
| | - Henry Fechner
- Department of Applied Biochemistry Institute of Biotechnology Technische Universität Berlin Germany
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19
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McCarthy C, Jayawardena N, Burga LN, Bostina M. Developing Picornaviruses for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E685. [PMID: 31100962 PMCID: PMC6562951 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses (OVs) form a group of novel anticancer therapeutic agents which selectively infect and lyse cancer cells. Members of several viral families, including Picornaviridae, have been shown to have anticancer activity. Picornaviruses are small icosahedral non-enveloped, positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses infecting a wide range of hosts. They possess several advantages for development for cancer therapy: Their genomes do not integrate into host chromosomes, do not encode oncogenes, and are easily manipulated as cDNA. This review focuses on the picornaviruses investigated for anticancer potential and the mechanisms that underpin this specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cormac McCarthy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Nadishka Jayawardena
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Laura N Burga
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
| | - Mihnea Bostina
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
- Otago Micro and Nano Imaging, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand.
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20
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Reale A, Vitiello A, Conciatori V, Parolin C, Calistri A, Palù G. Perspectives on immunotherapy via oncolytic viruses. Infect Agent Cancer 2019; 14:5. [PMID: 30792754 PMCID: PMC6371415 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-018-0218-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND With few exceptions, current chemotherapy and radiotherapy protocols only obtain a slightly prolonged survival with severe adverse effects in patients with advanced solid tumors. In particular, most solid malignancies not amenable to radical surgery still carry a dismal prognosis, which unfortunately is also the case for relapsing disease after surgery. Even though targeted therapies obtained good results, clinical experience showed that tumors eventually develop resistance. On the other hand, earlier attempts of cancer immunotherapy failed to show consistent efficacy. More recently, a deeper knowledge of immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) allowed the development of effective drugs: in particular, monoclonal antibodies targeting the so-called immune checkpoint molecules yielded striking and lasting effects in some tumors. Unfortunately, these monoclonal antibodies are not effective in a majority of patients and are ineffective in several solid malignancies. Furthermore, due to their mechanism of action, checkpoint inhibitors often elicit autoimmune-like disease. MAIN BODY The use of viruses as oncolytic agents (OVs) was considered in the past, while only recently OVs revealed a connection with immunotherapy. However, their antitumoral potential has remained largely unexplored, due to safety concerns and some limitations in the techniques to manipulate viruses. OV research was recently revived by a better knowledge of viral/cancer biology and advances in the methodologies to delete virulence/immune-escape related genes from even complex viral genomes or "to arm" OVs with appropriate transgenes. Recently, the first oncolytic virus, the HSV-1 based Talimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC), was approved for the treatment of non-resectable melanoma in USA and Europe. CONCLUSION OVs have the potential to become powerful agents of cancer immune and gene therapy. Indeed, in addition to their selective killing activity, they can act as versatile gene expression platforms for the delivery of therapeutic genes. This is particularly true for viruses with a large DNA genome, that can be manipulated to address the multiple immunosuppressive features of the TME. This review will focus on the open issues, on the most promising lines of research in the OV field and, more in general, on how OVs could be improved to achieve real clinical breakthroughs in cancers that are usually difficult to treat by immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Reale
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Adriana Vitiello
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Valeria Conciatori
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Cristina Parolin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Arianna Calistri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Via A. Gabelli, 63, 35121 Padua, Italy
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21
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Extremely Low Organ Toxicity and Strong Antitumor Activity of miR-34-Regulated Oncolytic Coxsackievirus B3. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 12:246-258. [PMID: 30891489 PMCID: PMC6406029 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapies have emerged as new modalities for cancer treatment. We previously reported that coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a novel oncolytic virus (OV) with a strong ability to lyse human non-small cell lung cancer cells; however, its non-specific toxicity against normal cells remains to be resolved. To improve its safety profile, microRNA target sequences complementary to miR-34a/c, which is expressed preferentially in normal cells, were inserted into the 5′ UTR or 3′ UTR of the CVB3 genome. In the presence of miR-34a/c, the gene-modified CVB3 could not replicate in normal cells. We also found that the pathogenicity of CVB3 was reduced to a greater extent by targeting miR-34a than miR-34c; in addition, it was more effective to insert the target sequences into the 3′ UTR rather than the 5′ UTR of the viral genome. Ultimately, we developed a double-miR-34a targeting virus (53a-CVB) by inserting miR-34a targets in both the 5′ UTR and 3′ UTR of the virus. 53a-CVB was minimally toxic to cells in normal tissue, but maintained nearly its full oncolytic activity in mice xenografted with human lung cancer. 53a-CVB is the first miR-34-regulated OV and represents a promising platform for the development of safe and effective anti-cancer therapies.
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22
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Fay EJ, Langlois RA. MicroRNA-Attenuated Virus Vaccines. Noncoding RNA 2018; 4:E25. [PMID: 30279330 PMCID: PMC6316615 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna4040025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Live-attenuated vaccines are the most effective way to establish robust, long-lasting immunity against viruses. However, the possibility of reversion to wild type replication and pathogenicity raises concerns over the safety of these vaccines. The use of host-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) to attenuate viruses has been accomplished in an array of biological contexts. The broad assortment of effective tissue- and species-specific miRNAs, and the ability to target a virus with multiple miRNAs, allow for targeting to be tailored to the virus of interest. While escape is always a concern, effective strategies have been developed to improve the safety and stability of miRNA-attenuated viruses. In this review, we discuss the various approaches that have been used to engineer miRNA-attenuated viruses, the steps that have been taken to improve their safety, and the potential use of these viruses as vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Fay
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
| | - Ryan A Langlois
- Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Center for Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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23
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Pol JG, Lévesque S, Workenhe ST, Gujar S, Le Boeuf F, Clements DR, Fahrner JE, Fend L, Bell JC, Mossman KL, Fucikova J, Spisek R, Zitvogel L, Kroemer G, Galluzzi L. Trial Watch: Oncolytic viro-immunotherapy of hematologic and solid tumors. Oncoimmunology 2018; 7:e1503032. [PMID: 30524901 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2018.1503032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses selectively target and kill cancer cells in an immunogenic fashion, thus supporting the establishment of therapeutically relevant tumor-specific immune responses. In 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the oncolytic herpes simplex virus T-VEC for use in advanced melanoma patients. Since then, a plethora of trials has been initiated to assess the safety and efficacy of multiple oncolytic viruses in patients affected with various malignancies. Here, we summarize recent preclinical and clinical progress in the field of oncolytic virotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan G Pol
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Sarah Lévesque
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France
| | - Samuel T Workenhe
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Shashi Gujar
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada.,Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, NS, Canada.,Centre for Innovative and Collaborative Health Sciences Research, Quality and System Performance, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Fabrice Le Boeuf
- Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Derek R Clements
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Jean-Eudes Fahrner
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Villejuif, France.,Transgene S.A., Illkirch-Graffenstaden, France
| | | | - John C Bell
- Cancer Therapeutics, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Karen L Mossman
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Institute for Infectious Disease Research, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.,Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jitka Fucikova
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Spisek
- Sotio a.c., Prague, Czech Republic.,Department of Immunology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Motol, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Laurence Zitvogel
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Villejuif, France
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Gustave Roussy Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France.,INSERM, Paris, France.,Equipe 11 labellisée par la Ligue Nationale contre le Cancer, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Paris, France.,Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Université Pierre et Marie Curie/Paris VI, Paris, France.,Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France.,Pôle de Biologie, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France.,Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Université Paris Descartes/Paris V, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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24
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Hazini A, Pryshliak M, Brückner V, Klingel K, Sauter M, Pinkert S, Kurreck J, Fechner H. Heparan Sulfate Binding Coxsackievirus B3 Strain PD: A Novel Avirulent Oncolytic Agent Against Human Colorectal Carcinoma. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 29:1301-1314. [PMID: 29739251 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2018.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), a single-stranded RNA virus of the picornavirus family, has been described as a novel oncolytic virus. However, the CVB3 strain used induced hepatitis and myocarditis in vivo. It was hypothesized that oncolytic activity and safety of CVB3 depends on the virus strain and its specific receptor tropism. Different laboratory strains of CVB3 (Nancy, 31-1-93, and H3), which use the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), and the strain PD, which uses N- and 6-O-sulfated heparan sulfate (HS) for entry into the cells, were investigated for their potential to lyse tumor cells and for their safety profile. The investigations were carried out in colorectal carcinoma. In vitro investigations showed variable infection efficiency and lysis of colorectal carcinoma cell lines by the CVB3 strains. The most efficient strain was PD, which was the only one that could lyse all investigated colorectal carcinoma cell lines. Lytic activity of CAR-dependent CVB3 did not correlate with CAR expression on cells, whereas there was a clear correlation between lytic activity of PD and its ability to bind to HS at the cell surface of colorectal carcinoma cells. Intratumoral injection of Nancy, 31-1-93, or PD into subcutaneous colorectal DLD1 cell tumors in BALB/c nude mice resulted in strong inhibition of tumor growth. The effect was seen in the injected tumor, as well as in a non-injected, contralateral tumor. However, all animals treated with 31-1-93 and Nancy developed systemic infection and died or were moribund and sacrificed within 8 days post virus injection. In contrast, five of the six animals treated with PD showed no signs of a systemic viral infection, and PD was not detected in any organ. The data demonstrate the potential of PD as a new oncolytic virus and HS-binding of PD as a key feature of oncolytic activity and improved safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hazini
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany .,2 Faculty of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Department of Bioengineering, Yildiz Technical University , Davutpasa Campus, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Markian Pryshliak
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany
| | - Vanessa Brückner
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany
| | - Karin Klingel
- 3 Department of Cardiopathology, Institute for Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martina Sauter
- 3 Department of Cardiopathology, Institute for Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sandra Pinkert
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Kurreck
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany
| | - Henry Fechner
- 1 Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin , Berlin, Germany
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25
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Abstract
Multiple myeloma (MM) is a clonal malignancy of plasma cells that is newly diagnosed in ~30,000 patients in the US each year. While recently developed therapies have improved the prognosis for MM patients, relapse rates remain unacceptably high. To overcome this challenge, researchers have begun to investigate the therapeutic potential of oncolytic viruses as a novel treatment option for MM. Preclinical work with these viruses has demonstrated that their infection can be highly specific for MM cells and results in impressive therapeutic efficacy in a variety of preclinical models. This has led to the recent initiation of several human trials. This review summarizes the current state of oncolytic therapy as a therapeutic option for MM and highlights a variety of areas that need to be addressed as the field moves forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Bartee
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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26
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Bofill-De Ros X, Rovira-Rigau M, Fillat C. Implications of MicroRNAs in Oncolytic Virotherapy. Front Oncol 2017; 7:142. [PMID: 28725635 PMCID: PMC5495989 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2017.00142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an abundant class of small non-coding RNA molecules (~22 nt) that can repress gene expression. Deregulation of certain miRNAs is widely recognized as a robust biomarker for many neoplasms, as well as an important player in tumorigenesis and the establishment of tumoral microenvironments. The downregulation of specific miRNAs in tumors has been exploited as a mechanism to provide selectivity to oncolytic viruses or gene-based therapies. miRNA response elements recognizing miRNAs expressed in specific tissues, but downregulated in tumors, have been inserted into the 3′UTR of viral genes to promote the degradation of these viral mRNAs in healthy tissue, but not in tumor cells. Consequently, oncolytic virotherapy-associated toxicities were diminished, while therapeutic activity in tumor cells was preserved. However, viral infections themselves can modulate the miRNome of the host cell, and such miRNA changes under infection impact the normal viral lifecycle. Thus, there is a miRNA-mediated interplay between virus and host cell, affecting both viral and cellular activities. Moreover, the outcome of such interactions may be cell type or condition specific, suggesting that the impact on normal and tumoral cells may differ. Here, we provide an insight into the latest developments in miRNA-based viral engineering for cancer therapy, following the most recent discoveries in miRNA biology. Furthermore, we report on the relevance of miRNAs in virus–host cell interaction, and how such knowledge can be exploited to improve the control of viral activity in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Bofill-De Ros
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Rovira-Rigau
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Fillat
- Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Barcelona, Spain
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27
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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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28
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Abstract
Cell-specific restriction of viral replication without concomitant attenuation can benefit vaccine development, gene therapy, oncolytic virotherapy, and understanding the biological properties of viruses. There are several mechanisms for regulating viral tropism, however they tend to be virus class specific and many result in virus attenuation. Additionally, many viruses, including picornaviruses, exhibit size constraints that do not allow for incorporation of large amounts of foreign genetic material required for some targeting methods. MicroRNAs are short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression in eukaryotic cells by binding complementary target sequences in messenger RNAs, preventing their translation or accelerating their degradation. Different cells exhibit distinct microRNA signatures and many microRNAs serve as biomarkers. These differential expression patterns can be exploited for restricting gene expression in cells that express specific microRNAs while maintaining expression in cells that do not. In regards to regulating viral tropism, sequences complementary to specific microRNAs are incorporated into the viral genome, generally in the 3' non-coding regions, targeting them for destruction in the presence of the cognate microRNAs thus preventing viral gene expression and/or replication. MicroRNA-targeting is a technique that theoretically can be applied to all viral vectors without altering the potency of the virus in the absence of the corresponding microRNAs. Here we describe experimental methods associated with generating a microRNA-targeted picornavirus and evaluating the efficacy and specificity of that targeting in vitro. This protocol is designed for a rapidly replicating virus with a lytic replication cycle, however, modification of the time points analyzed and the specific virus titration readouts used will aid in the adaptation of this protocol to many different viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Autumn J Ruiz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine;
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