1
|
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; 19:2540-2570. [PMID: 38769145 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-024-00985-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lauer UM, Schell M, Beil J, Berchtold S, Koppenhöfer U, Glatzle J, Königsrainer A, Möhle R, Nann D, Fend F, Pfannenberg C, Bitzer M, Malek NP. Phase I Study of Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus GL-ONC1 in Patients with Peritoneal Carcinomatosis. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:4388-4398. [PMID: 29773661 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-18-0244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Peritoneal carcinomatosis is common in advanced tumor stages or disease recurrence arising from gastrointestinal cancers, gynecologic malignancies, or primary peritoneal carcinoma. Because current therapies are mostly ineffective, new therapeutic approaches are needed. Here, we report on a phase I study designed to assess safety, MTD, and antitumor activity of intraperitoneal administration of oncolytic vaccinia virus GL-ONC1 in advanced stage peritoneal carcinomatosis patients.Patients and Methods: GL-ONC1 was administered intraperitoneally every 4 weeks for up to four cycles at three different dose levels (107-109 pfu) following a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. GL-ONC1 was infused via an indwelling catheter that enabled repetitive analyses of peritoneal fluid biopsies. The primary study objective was safety of GL-ONC1 according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 4.0 (CTCAEv4.0).Results: Patients with advanced-stage peritoneal carcinomatosis (n = 7) or advanced peritoneal mesothelioma (n = 2) received 24 doses of GL-ONC1. Adverse events were limited to grades 1-3, including transient flu-like symptoms and increased abdominal pain, resulting from treatment-induced peritonitis. No DLT was reported, and the MTD was not reached. Furthermore, no signs of viral shedding were observed. Importantly, in 8 of 9 study patients, effective intraperitoneal infections, in-patient replication of GL-ONC1, and subsequent oncolysis were demonstrated in cycle 1. All patients developed neutralizing activities against GL-ONC1.Conclusions: GL-ONC1 was well tolerated when administered into the peritoneal cavity of patients with advanced stage peritoneal carcinomatosis. Efficient tumor cell infection, in-patient virus replication, and oncolysis were limited to treatment cycle 1 (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01443260). Clin Cancer Res; 24(18); 4388-98. ©2018 AACR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martina Schell
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ursula Koppenhöfer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Glatzle
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Königsrainer
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Robert Möhle
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Dominik Nann
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Falko Fend
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Christina Pfannenberg
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Bitzer
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nisar P Malek
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Real-time imaging of intestinal bacterial β-glucuronidase activity by hydrolysis of a fluorescent probe. Sci Rep 2017; 7:3142. [PMID: 28600512 PMCID: PMC5466677 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-03252-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal bacterial β-glucuronidase (βG) hydrolyzes glucuronidated metabolites to their toxic form in intestines, resulting in intestinal damage. The development of a method to inhibit βG is thus important but has been limited by the difficulty of directly assessing enzyme activity in live animals. Here, we utilized a fluorescent probe, fluorescein di-β-D-glucuronide (FDGlcU), to non-invasively image the intestinal bacterial βG activity in nude mice. In vitro cell-based assays showed that the detection limit is 104 colony-forming units/well of βG-expressing bacteria, and that 7.81 ng/mL of FDGlcU is enough to generate significant fluorescent signal. In whole-body optical images of nude mice, the maximum fluorescence signal for βG activity in intestines was detected 3 hours after gavage with FDGlcU. Following pretreatment with a bacterial βG inhibitor, the fluorescence signal was significantly reduced in abdomens and excised intestines images. For a 4-day antibiotic treatment to deplete intestinal bacteria, the FDGlcU-based images showed that the βG activity was decreased by 8.5-fold on day 4 and then gradually increased after treatment stopped. The results suggested that FDGlcU-based imaging revealed the in vitro and in vivo activity of intestinal bacterial βG, which would facilitate pharmacodynamic studies of specific bacterial βG inhibitors in animal studies.
Collapse
|
4
|
Tsoneva D, Minev B, Frentzen A, Zhang Q, Wege AK, Szalay AA. Humanized Mice with Subcutaneous Human Solid Tumors for Immune Response Analysis of Vaccinia Virus-Mediated Oncolysis. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2017; 5:41-61. [PMID: 28480327 PMCID: PMC5415323 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) therapy is an alternative cancer treatment modality that mediates targeted tumor destruction through a tumor-selective replication and an induction of anti-tumor immunity. We developed a humanized tumor mouse model with subcutaneous human tumors to analyze the interactions of VACV with the developing tumors and human immune system. A successful systemic reconstitution with human immune cells including functional T cells as well as development of tumors infiltrated with human T and natural killer (NK) cells was observed. We also demonstrated successful in vivo colonization of such tumors with systemically administered VACVs. Further, a new recombinant GLV-1h376 VACV encoding for a secreted human CTLA4-blocking single-chain antibody (CTLA4 scAb) was tested. Surprisingly, although proving CTLA4 scAb's in vitro binding ability and functionality in cell culture, beside the significant increase of CD56bright NK cell subset, GLV-1h376 was not able to increase cytotoxic T or overall NK cell levels at the tumor site. Importantly, the virus-encoded β-glucuronidase as a measure of viral titer and CTLA4 scAb amount was demonstrated. Therefore, studies in our "patient-like" humanized tumor mouse model allow the exploration of newly designed therapy strategies considering the complex relationships between the developing tumor, the oncolytic virus, and the human immune system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desislava Tsoneva
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Boris Minev
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, Rebecca & John Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.,Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Alexa Frentzen
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Anja K Wege
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Aladar A Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Wuerzburg, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany.,Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences, Rebecca & John Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA 92093, USA.,Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.,Rudolph Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Wuerzburg, 97080 Wuerzburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tsoneva D, Stritzker J, Bedenk K, Zhang Q, Frentzen A, Cappello J, Fischer U, Szalay AA. Drug-Encoded Biomarkers for Monitoring Biological Therapies. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0137573. [PMID: 26348361 PMCID: PMC4562523 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0137573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood tests are necessary, easy-to-perform and low-cost alternatives for monitoring of oncolytic virotherapy and other biological therapies in translational research. Here we assessed three candidate proteins with the potential to be used as biomarkers in biological fluids: two glucuronidases from E. coli (GusA) and Staphylococcus sp. RLH1 (GusPlus), and the luciferase from Gaussia princeps (GLuc). The three genes encoding these proteins were inserted individually into vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 genome under the control of an identical promoter. The three resulting recombinant viruses were used to infect tumor cells in cultures and human tumor xenografts in nude mice. In contrast to the actively secreted GLuc, the cytoplasmic glucuronidases GusA and GusPlus were released into the supernatants only as a result of virus-mediated oncolysis. GusPlus resulted in the most sensitive detection of enzyme activity under controlled assay conditions in samples containing as little as 1 pg/ml of GusPlus, followed by GusA (25 pg/ml) and GLuc (≥375 pg/ml). Unexpectedly, even though GusA had a lower specific activity compared to GusPlus, the substrate conversion in the serum of tumor-bearing mice injected with the GusA-encoding virus strains was substantially higher than that of GusPlus. This was attributed to a 3.2 fold and 16.2 fold longer half-life of GusA in the blood stream compared to GusPlus and GLuc respectively, thus a more sensitive monitor of virus replication than the other two enzymes. Due to the good correlation between enzymatic activity of expressed marker gene and virus titer, we conclude that the amount of the biomarker protein in the body fluid semiquantitatively represents the amount of virus in the infected tumors which was confirmed by low light imaging. We found GusA to be the most reliable biomarker for monitoring oncolytic virotherapy among the three tested markers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desislava Tsoneva
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jochen Stritzker
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (JS); (AAS)
| | - Kristina Bedenk
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Alexa Frentzen
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Joseph Cappello
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Utz Fischer
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
| | - Aladar A. Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JS); (AAS)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Kirscher L, Deán-Ben XL, Scadeng M, Zaremba A, Zhang Q, Kober C, Fehm TF, Razansky D, Ntziachristos V, Stritzker J, Szalay AA. Doxycycline Inducible Melanogenic Vaccinia Virus as Theranostic Anti-Cancer Agent. Theranostics 2015; 5:1045-57. [PMID: 26199644 PMCID: PMC4508495 DOI: 10.7150/thno.12533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 05/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
We reported earlier the diagnostic potential of a melanogenic vaccinia virus based system in magnetic resonance (MRI) and optoacoustic deep tissue imaging (MSOT). Since melanin overproduction lead to attenuated virus replication, we constructed a novel recombinant vaccinia virus strain (rVACV), GLV-1h462, which expressed the key enzyme of melanogenesis (tyrosinase) under the control of an inducible promoter-system. In this study melanin production was detected after exogenous addition of doxycycline in two different tumor xenograft mouse models. Furthermore, it was confirmed that this novel vaccinia virus strain still facilitated signal enhancement as detected by MRI and optoacoustic tomography. At the same time we demonstrated an enhanced oncolytic potential compared to the constitutively melanin synthesizing rVACV system.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Kirscher
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Xosé Luis Deán-Ben
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Miriam Scadeng
- 3. University of San Diego, Center of Functional MRI, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Angelika Zaremba
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Christina Kober
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Felix Fehm
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Daniel Razansky
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Vasilis Ntziachristos
- 4. Helmholtz Institute, IBMI, Ingolstädter Landstraße 1, 85764 Oberschleißheim, Germany
| | - Jochen Stritzker
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Aladar A. Szalay
- 1. University of Würzburg, Department of Biochemistry, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
- 2. Genelux Cooperation, San Diego Science Center, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
- 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Frentzen A, Geissinger U, Tsoneva D, Stritzker J. Use of GLV-1h68 for Vaccinia Virotherapy and Monitoring. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1317:225-237. [PMID: 26072410 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2727-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Herein we describe the use of the vaccinia virus strain GLV-1h68 as a theragnostic agent in cancer models. To date, GLV-1h68 has been used successfully in more than 50 xenograft tumor models. The recombinant vaccinia virus strain has been equipped with heterologous expression cassettes for a luciferase-fluorescent protein fusion gene, bacterial beta-galactosidase, as well as a bacterial glucuronidase. The methods to investigate and monitor GLV-1h68 mediated virotherapy, including optical imaging and biomarker analysis, will be presented in detail.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Frentzen
- Genelux Corporation, 3030 Bunker Hill St, San Diego, CA, 92109, USA
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Stritzker J, Huppertz S, Zhang Q, Geissinger U, Härtl B, Gentschev I, Szalay AA. Inducible gene expression in tumors colonized by modified oncolytic vaccinia virus strains. J Virol 2014; 88:11556-67. [PMID: 25056902 PMCID: PMC4178832 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00681-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Accepted: 07/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Exogenous gene induction of therapeutic, diagnostic, and safety mechanisms could be a considerable improvement in oncolytic virotherapy. Here, we introduced a doxycycline-inducible promoter system (comprised of a tetracycline repressor, several promoter constructs, and a tet operator sequence) into oncolytic recombinant vaccinia viruses (rVACV), which were further characterized in detail. Experiments in cell cultures as well as in tumor-bearing mice were analyzed to determine the role of the inducible-system components. To accomplish this, we took advantage of the optical reporter construct, which resulted in the production of click-beetle luciferase as well as a red fluorescent protein. The results indicated that each of the system components could be used to optimize the induction rates and had an influence on the background expression levels. Depending on the given gene to be induced in rVACV-colonized tumors of patients, we discuss the doxycycline-inducible promoter system adjustment and further optimization. IMPORTANCE Oncolytic virotherapy of cancer can greatly benefit from the expression of heterologous genes. It is reasonable that some of those heterologous gene products could have detrimental effects either on the cancer patient or on the oncolytic virus itself if they are expressed at the wrong time or if the expression levels are too high. Therefore, exogenous control of gene expression levels by administration of a nontoxic inducer will have positive effects on the safety as well as the therapeutic outcome of oncolytic virotherapy. In addition, it paves the way for the introduction of new therapeutic genes into the genome of oncolytic viruses that could not have been tested otherwise.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jochen Stritzker
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Sascha Huppertz
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Qian Zhang
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ulrike Geissinger
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Barbara Härtl
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux GmbH, Bernried, Germany
| | - Ivaylo Gentschev
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Aladar A Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tranoy-Opalinski I, Legigan T, Barat R, Clarhaut J, Thomas M, Renoux B, Papot S. β-Glucuronidase-responsive prodrugs for selective cancer chemotherapy: an update. Eur J Med Chem 2014; 74:302-13. [PMID: 24480360 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2013.12.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Revised: 12/22/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The design of novel antitumor agents allowing the destruction of malignant cells while sparing healthy tissues is one of the major challenges in medicinal chemistry. In this context, the use of non-toxic prodrugs programmed to be selectively activated by beta-glucuronidase present at high concentration in the microenvironment of most solid tumors has attracted considerable attention. This review summarizes the major progresses that have been realized in this field over the past ten years. This includes the new prodrugs that have been designed to target a wide variety of anticancer drugs, the prodrugs employed in the course of a combined therapy, the dendritic glucuronide prodrugs and the concept of β-glucuronidase-responsive albumin binding prodrugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Isabelle Tranoy-Opalinski
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Thibaut Legigan
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Romain Barat
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Jonathan Clarhaut
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France; INSERM CIC 0802, CHU de Poitiers, 2 rue de la Milétrie, 86021 Poitiers, France
| | - Mikaël Thomas
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Brigitte Renoux
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France
| | - Sébastien Papot
- Université de Poitiers, UMR-CNRS 7285, Institut de Chimie des Milieux et des Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP), Groupe "Systèmes Moléculaires Programmés", 4 rue Michel Brunet, 86022 Poitiers, France.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ruiz-Hernández E, Hess M, Melen GJ, Theek B, Talelli M, Shi Y, Ozbakir B, Teunissen EA, Ramírez M, Moeckel D, Kiessling F, Storm G, Scheeren HW, Hennink WE, Szalay AA, Stritzker J, Lammers T. PEG-pHPMAm-based polymeric micelles loaded with doxorubicin-prodrugs in combination antitumor therapy with oncolytic vaccinia viruses. Polym Chem 2014:1674-1681. [PMID: 24518685 DOI: 10.1039/c3py01097j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
An enzymatically activatable prodrug of doxorubicin was covalently coupled, using click-chemistry, to the hydrophobic core of poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly[N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-methacrylamide-lactate] micelles. The release and cytotoxic activity of the prodrug was evaluated in vitro in A549 non-small-cell lung cancer cells after adding β-glucuronidase, an enzyme which is present intracellularly in lysosomes and extracellularly in necrotic areas of tumor lesions. The prodrug-containing micelles alone and in combination with standard and β-glucuronidase-producing oncolytic vaccinia viruses were also evaluated in vivo, in mice bearing A549 xenograft tumors. When combined with the oncolytic viruses, the micelles completely blocked tumor growth. Moreover, a significantly better antitumor efficacy as compared to virus treatment alone was observed when β-glucuronidase virus treated tumor-bearing mice received the prodrug-containing micelles. These findings show that combining tumor-targeted drug delivery systems with oncolytic vaccinia viruses holds potential for improving anticancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Ruiz-Hernández
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Michael Hess
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Gustavo J Melen
- Department of Hematooncology & Stem Cell Transplantation Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Benjamin Theek
- Department of Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic and Helmholtz Center for Biomedical Engineering, Aachen, Germany
| | - Marina Talelli
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Inorganic and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Yang Shi
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Burcin Ozbakir
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Erik A Teunissen
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Manuel Ramírez
- Department of Hematooncology & Stem Cell Transplantation Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diana Moeckel
- Department of Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic and Helmholtz Center for Biomedical Engineering, Aachen, Germany
| | - Fabian Kiessling
- Department of Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic and Helmholtz Center for Biomedical Engineering, Aachen, Germany
| | - Gert Storm
- Department of Controlled Drug Delivery, Targeted Therapeutics Section, University of Twente and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine, Enschede, The Netherlands
| | - Hans W Scheeren
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Radboud Univ Nijmegen, Heyendaalse weg 135, 6525 AJ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wim E Hennink
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Aladar A Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.,Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Jochen Stritzker
- Department of Biochemistry, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.,Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, CA 92109, USA
| | - Twan Lammers
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Experimental Molecular Imaging, University Clinic and Helmholtz Center for Biomedical Engineering, Aachen, Germany.,Department of Controlled Drug Delivery, Targeted Therapeutics Section, University of Twente and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine, Enschede, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Byrne WL, DeLille A, Kuo C, de Jong JS, van Dam GM, Francis KP, Tangney M. Use of optical imaging to progress novel therapeutics to the clinic. J Control Release 2013; 172:523-34. [PMID: 23680286 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2013.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2013] [Revised: 04/30/2013] [Accepted: 05/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
There is an undisputed need for employment and improvement of robust technology for real-time analyses of therapeutic delivery and responses in clinical translation of gene and cell therapies. Over the past decade, optical imaging has become the in vivo imaging modality of choice for many preclinical laboratories due to its efficiency, practicality and affordability, while more recently, the clinical potential for this technology is becoming apparent. This review provides an update on the current state of the art in in vivo optical imaging and discusses this rapidly improving technology in the context of it representing a translation enabler or indeed a future clinical imaging modality in its own right.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- William L Byrne
- Cork Cancer Research Centre, BioScience Institute, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen KC, Schmuck K, Tietze LF, Roffler SR. Selective cancer therapy by extracellular activation of a highly potent glycosidic duocarmycin analogue. Mol Pharm 2013; 10:1773-82. [PMID: 23448264 DOI: 10.1021/mp300581u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Conventional cancer chemotherapy is limited by systemic toxicity and poor selectivity. Tumor-selective activation of glucuronide prodrugs by beta-glucuronidase in the tumor microenvironment in a monotherapeutic approach is one promising way to increase cancer selectivity. Here we examined the cellular requirement for enzymatic activation as well as the in vivo toxicity and antitumor activity of a glucuronide prodrug of a potent duocarmycin analogue that is active at low picomolar concentrations. Prodrug activation by intracellular and extracellular beta-glucuronidase was investigated by measuring prodrug 2 cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines that displayed different endogenous levels of beta-glucuronidase, as well as against beta-glucuronidase-deficient fibroblasts and newly established beta-glucuronidase knockdown cancer lines. In all cases, glucuronide prodrug 2 was 1000-5000 times less cytotoxic than the parent duocarmycin analogue regardless of intracellular levels of beta-glucuronidase. By contrast, cancer cells that displayed tethered beta-glucuronidase on their plasma membrane were 80-fold more sensitive to glucuronide prodrug 2, demonstrating that prodrug activation depended primarily on extracellular rather than intracellular beta-glucuronidase activity. Glucuronide prodrug 2 (2.5 mg/kg) displayed greater antitumor activity and less systemic toxicity in vivo than the clinically used drug carboplatin (50 mg/kg) to mice bearing human lung cancer xenografts. Intratumoral injection of an adenoviral vector expressing membrane-tethered beta-glucuronidase dramatically enhanced the in vivo antitumor activity of prodrug 2. Our data provide evidence that increasing extracellular beta-glucuronidase activity in the tumor microenvironment can boost the therapeutic index of a highly potent glucuronide prodrug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Chuan Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Vaccinia virus-mediated melanin production allows MR and optoacoustic deep tissue imaging and laser-induced thermotherapy of cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:3316-20. [PMID: 23401518 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1216916110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We reported earlier the delivery of antiangiogenic single chain antibodies by using oncolytic vaccinia virus strains to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Here, we provide evidence that gene-evoked production of melanin can be used as a therapeutic and diagnostic mediator, as exemplified by insertion of only one or two genes into the genome of an oncolytic vaccinia virus strain. We found that produced melanin is an excellent reporter for optical imaging without addition of substrate. Melanin production also facilitated deep tissue optoacoustic imaging as well as MRI. In addition, melanin was shown to be a suitable target for laser-induced thermotherapy and enhanced oncolytic viral therapy. In conclusion, melanin as a mediator for thermotherapy and reporter for different imaging modalities may soon become a versatile alternative to replace fluorescent proteins also in other biological systems. After ongoing extensive preclinical studies, melanin overproducing oncolytic virus strains might be used in clinical trials in patients with cancer.
Collapse
|
14
|
Patil SS, Gentschev I, Adelfinger M, Donat U, Hess M, Weibel S, Nolte I, Frentzen A, Szalay AA. Virotherapy of canine tumors with oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h109 expressing an anti-VEGF single-chain antibody. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47472. [PMID: 23091626 PMCID: PMC3473019 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy using oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is one promising new strategy for cancer therapy. We have previously reported that oncolytic vaccinia virus strains expressing an anti-VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) single-chain antibody (scAb) GLAF-1 exhibited significant therapeutic efficacy for treatment of human tumor xenografts. Here, we describe the use of oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h109 encoding GLAF-1 for canine cancer therapy. In this study we analyzed the virus-mediated delivery and production of scAb GLAF-1 and the oncolytic and immunological effects of the GLV-1h109 vaccinia virus strain against canine soft tissue sarcoma and canine prostate carcinoma in xenograft models. Cell culture data demonstrated that the GLV-1h109 virus efficiently infect, replicate in and destroy both tested canine cancer cell lines. In addition, successful expression of GLAF-1 was demonstrated in virus-infected canine cancer cells and the antibody specifically recognized canine VEGF. In two different xenograft models, the systemic administration of the GLV-1h109 virus was found to be safe and led to anti-tumor and immunological effects resulting in the significant reduction of tumor growth in comparison to untreated control mice. Furthermore, tumor-specific virus infection led to a continued production of functional scAb GLAF-1, resulting in inhibition of angiogenesis. Overall, the GLV-1h109-mediated cancer therapy and production of immunotherapeutic anti-VEGF scAb may open the way for combination therapy concept i.e. vaccinia virus mediated oncolysis and intratumoral production of therapeutic drugs in canine cancer patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep S. Patil
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ivaylo Gentschev
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Marion Adelfinger
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Donat
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Hess
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Stephanie Weibel
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Ingo Nolte
- Small Animal Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexa Frentzen
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Aladar A. Szalay
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Genelux Corporation, San Diego Science Center, San Diego, California, United States of America
- Rudolf Virchow Center for Experimental Biomedicine, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|