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Webb MJ, Sener U, Vile RG. Current Status and Challenges of Oncolytic Virotherapy for the Treatment of Glioblastoma. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:793. [PMID: 37375742 PMCID: PMC10301268 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of research and numerous clinical trials, the prognosis of patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) remains dire with median observed survival at 8 months. There is a critical need for novel treatments for GBM, which is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. Major advances in cancer therapeutics such as immune checkpoint inhibitors and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have not yet led to improved outcomes for GBM. Conventional therapy of surgery followed by chemoradiation with or without tumor treating fields remains the standard of care. One of the many approaches to GBM therapy currently being explored is viral therapies. These typically work by selectively lysing target neoplastic cells, called oncolysis, or by the targeted delivery of a therapeutic transgene via a viral vector. In this review, we discuss the underlying mechanisms of action and describe both recent and current human clinical trials using these viruses with an emphasis on promising viral therapeutics that may ultimately break the field's current stagnant paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mason J. Webb
- Department of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
| | - Ugur Sener
- Department of Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Richard G. Vile
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA;
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2
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Clinically Explored Virus-Based Therapies for the Treatment of Recurrent High-Grade Glioma in Adults. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020138. [PMID: 33535555 PMCID: PMC7912718 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
As new treatment modalities are being explored in neuro-oncology, viruses are emerging as a promising class of therapeutics. Virotherapy consists of the introduction of either wild-type or engineered viruses to the site of disease, where they exert an antitumor effect. These viruses can either be non-lytic, in which case they are used to deliver gene therapy, or lytic, which induces tumor cell lysis and subsequent host immunologic response. Replication-competent viruses can then go on to further infect and lyse neighboring glioma cells. This treatment paradigm is being explored extensively in both preclinical and clinical studies for a variety of indications. Virus-based therapies are advantageous due to the natural susceptibility of glioma cells to viral infection, which improves therapeutic selectivity. Furthermore, lytic viruses expose glioma antigens to the host immune system and subsequently stimulate an immune response that specifically targets tumor cells. This review surveys the current landscape of oncolytic virotherapy clinical trials in high-grade glioma, summarizes preclinical experiences, identifies challenges associated with this modality across multiple trials, and highlights the potential to integrate this therapeutic strategy into promising combinatory approaches.
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Chastkofsky MI, Pituch KC, Katagi H, Zannikou M, Ilut L, Xiao T, Han Y, Sonabend AM, Curiel DT, Bonner ER, Nazarian J, Horbinski CM, James CD, Saratsis AM, Hashizume R, Lesniak MS, Balyasnikova IV. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Successfully Deliver Oncolytic Virotherapy to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Clin Cancer Res 2020; 27:1766-1777. [PMID: 33272983 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-1499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is among the deadliest of pediatric brain tumors. Radiotherapy is the standard-of-care treatment for DIPG, but offers only transient relief of symptoms for patients with DIPG without providing significant survival benefit. Oncolytic virotherapy is an anticancer treatment that has been investigated for treating various types of brain tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Here, we have explored the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) for oncolytic virus (OV) delivery and evaluated treatment efficacy using preclinical models of DIPG. The survivin promoter drives the conditional replication of OV used in our studies. The efficiency of OV entry into the cells is mediated by fiber modification with seven lysine residues (CRAd.S.pK7). Patients' samples and cell lines were analyzed for the expression of viral entry proteins and survivin. The ability of MSCs to deliver OV to DIPG was studied in the context of a low dose of irradiation. RESULTS Our results show that DIPG cells and tumors exhibit robust expression of cell surface proteins and survivin that enable efficient OV entry and replication in DIPG cells. MSCs loaded with OV disseminate within a tumor and release OV throughout the DIPG brainstem xenografts in mice. Administration of OV-loaded MSCs with radiotherapy to mice bearing brainstem DIPG xenografts results in more prolonged survival relative to that conferred by either therapy alone (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our study supports OV, CRAd.S.pK7, encapsulated within MSCs as a therapeutic strategy that merits further investigation and potential translation for DIPG treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael I Chastkofsky
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Katarzyna C Pituch
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hiroaki Katagi
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Markella Zannikou
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Liliana Ilut
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Ting Xiao
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Yu Han
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Adam M Sonabend
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - David T Curiel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Erin R Bonner
- Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.,Institute for Biomedical Sciences, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Center for Genomics and Precision Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, D.C.,Department of Integrative Systems Biology, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C
| | - Craig M Horbinski
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - C David James
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Amanda M Saratsis
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Rintaro Hashizume
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Irina V Balyasnikova
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois.
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4
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Sajib AM, Sandey M, Morici S, Schuler B, Agarwal P, Smith BF. Analysis of endogenous and exogenous tumor upregulated promoter expression in canine tumors. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240807. [PMID: 33166332 PMCID: PMC7652315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240807] [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] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising treatment option for cancer. However, its utility may be limited due to expression in off-target cells. Cancer-specific promoters such as telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT), survivin, and chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) have enhanced activity in a variety of human and murine cancers, however, little has been published regarding these promoters in dogs. Given the utility of canine cancer models, the activity of these promoters along with adenoviral E2F enhanced E1a promoter (EEE) was evaluated in a variety of canine tumors, both from the endogenous gene and from exogenously administered constructs. Endogenous expression levels were measured for cTERT, cSurvivin, and cCXCR4 and were low for all three, with some non-malignant and some tumor cell lines and tissues expressing the gene. Expression levels from exogenously supplied promoters were measured by both the number of cells expressing the construct and the intensity of expression in individual cells. Exogenously supplied promoters were active in more cells in all tumor lines than in normal cells, with the EEE promoter being most active, followed by cTERT. The intensity of expression varied more with cell type than with specific promoters. Ultimately, no single promoter was identified that would result in reliable expression, regardless of the tumor type. Thus, these findings imply that identification of a pan-cancer promoter may be difficult. In addition, this data raises the concern that endogenous expression analysis may not accurately predict exogenous promoter activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Mohin Sajib
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
| | - Maninder Sandey
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
| | - Samantha Morici
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
| | - Bradley Schuler
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
| | - Payal Agarwal
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
| | - Bruce F. Smith
- Scott-Ritchey Research Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States of America
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Muhammad T, Sakhawat A, Khan AA, Ma L, Gjerset RA, Huang Y. Mesenchymal stem cell-mediated delivery of therapeutic adenoviral vectors to prostate cancer. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 10:190. [PMID: 31238944 PMCID: PMC6593580 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1268-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background There is an urgent need for targeted biological therapies for prostate cancer with greater efficacy and less toxicity, particularly for metastatic disease, where current therapies are not curative. Therapeutic adenoviral vectors or oncolytic adenoviruses offer the possibility of a competent, nontoxic therapeutic alternative for prostate cancer. However, free viral particles must be delivered locally, an approach that does not address metastatic disease, and they display poor tumor penetration. To fully exploit the potential of these vectors, we must develop methods that improve intratumoral dissemination and allow for systemic delivery. This study establishes a proof-of-principle rationale for a novel human mesenchymal stem (stromal) cell-based approach to improving vector delivery to tumors. Methods/results We have generated mesenchymal stem cell-derived packaging cells for adenoviruses (E1-modified mesenchymal stem cells) by modifying human mesenchymal stem cells with the adenovirus (type C) E1A/B genes needed for viral replication. Using cell-based assays, we have demonstrated that two adenoviral vectors, replication-defective adenovirus expressing p14 and p53 or conditionally replicating oncolytic adenovirus, packaged by E1A/B-modified mesenchymal stem cells, suppress the growth of prostate cancer cells in culture. Using subcutaneous xenograft models for human prostate cancer in mice, we have shown that E1A/B-modified mesenchymal stem cells display tumor tropism in tumor-bearing nude mice, that E1A/B-modified mesenchymal stem cells disseminate well within tumors, and that replication-defective adenovirus expressing p14 and p53 or conditionally replicating oncolytic adenovirus-loaded E1-modified mesenchymal stem cells suppresses tumor growth in mice. Conclusion The results show that this approach, if optimized, could circumvent the obstacles to efficient gene delivery encountered with current gene delivery approaches and provide an effective, nontoxic therapeutic alternative for metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahir Muhammad
- College of life sciences and Bio-engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ali Sakhawat
- College of life sciences and Bio-engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Aamir Ali Khan
- College of life sciences and Bio-engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ling Ma
- College of life sciences and Bio-engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Ruth A Gjerset
- Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Yinghui Huang
- College of life sciences and Bio-engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China.
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Emdad L, Das SK, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Cancer terminator viruses (CTV): A better solution for viral-based therapy of cancer. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5684-5695. [PMID: 29278667 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
In principle, viral gene therapy holds significant potential for the therapy of solid cancers. However, this promise has not been fully realized and systemic administration of viruses has not proven as successful as envisioned in the clinical arena. Our research is focused on developing the next generation of efficacious viruses to specifically treat both primary cancers and a major cause of cancer lethality, metastatic tumors (that have spread from a primary site of origin to other areas in the body and are responsible for an estimated 90% of cancer deaths). We have generated a chimeric tropism-modified type 5 and 3 adenovirus that selectively replicates in cancer cells and simultaneously produces a secreted anti-cancer toxic cytokine, melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/Interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24), referred to as a Cancer Terminator Virus (CTV) (Ad.5/3-CTV). In preclinical animal models, injection into a primary tumor causes selective cell death and therapeutic activity is also observed in non-injected distant tumors, that is, "bystander anti-tumor activity." To enhance the impact and therapeutic utility of the CTV, we have pioneered an elegant approach in which viruses are encapsulated in microbubbles allowing "stealth delivery" to tumor cells that when treated with focused ultrasound causes viral release killing tumor cells through viral replication, and producing and secreting MDA-7/IL-24, which stimulates the immune system to attack distant cancers, inhibits tumor angiogenesis and directly promotes apoptosis in distant cancer cells. This strategy is called UTMD (ultrasound-targeted microbubble-destruction). This novel CTV and UTMD approach hold significant promise for the effective therapy of primary and disseminated tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine and VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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7
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Yamauchi S, Zhong B, Kawamura K, Yang S, Kubo S, Shingyoji M, Sekine I, Tada Y, Tatsumi K, Shimada H, Hiroshima K, Tagawa M. Cytotoxicity of replication-competent adenoviruses powered by an exogenous regulatory region is not linearly correlated with the viral infectivity/gene expression or with the E1A-activating ability but is associated with the p53 genotypes. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:622. [PMID: 28874135 PMCID: PMC5584036 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Replication-competent adenoviruses (Ad) produced cytotoxic effects on infected tumors and have been examined for the clinical applicability. A biomarkers to predict the cytotoxicity is valuable in a clinical setting. Methods We constructed type 5 Ad (Ad5) of which the expression of E1A gene was activated by a 5′ regulatory sequences of survivin, midkine or cyclooxygenase-2, which were highly expressed in human tumors. We also produced the same replication-competent Ad of which the fiber-knob region was replaced by that of Ad35 (AdF35). The cytotoxicity was examined by a colorimetric assay with human tumor cell lines, 4 kinds of pancreatic, 9 esophageal carcinoma and 5 mesothelioma. Ad infectivity and Ad-mediated gene expression were examined with replication-incompetent Ad5 and AdF35 which expressed the green fluorescence protein gene. Expression of cellular receptors for Ad5 and AdF35 was also examined with flow cytometry. A transcriptional activity of the regulatory sequences was investigated with a luciferase assay in the tumor cells. We then investigated a possible correlation between Ad-mediated cytotoxicity and the infectivity/gene expression, the transcriptional activity or the p53 genotype. Results We found that the cytotoxicity was greater with AdF35 than with Ad5 vectors, but was not correlated with the Ad infectivity/gene expression irrespective of the fiber-knob region or the E1A-activating transcriptional activity. In contrast, replication-competent Ad produced greater cytotoxicity in p53 mutated than in wild-type esophageal carcinoma cells, suggesting a possible association between the cytotoxicity and the p53 genotype. Conclusions Sensitivity to Ad-mediated cytotoxic activity was linked with the p53 genotype but was not lineally correlated with the infectivity/gene expression or the E1A expression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-017-3621-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suguru Yamauchi
- Division of Pathology and Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Biology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Boya Zhong
- Division of Pathology and Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Biology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Kiyoko Kawamura
- Division of Pathology and Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shan Yang
- Division of Pathology and Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan.,Department of Molecular Biology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shuji Kubo
- Department of Genetics, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Japan
| | | | - Ikuo Sekine
- Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yuji Tada
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Koichiro Tatsumi
- Department of Respirology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Hideaki Shimada
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenzo Hiroshima
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Women's Medical University Yachiyo Medical Center, Yachiyo, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Tagawa
- Division of Pathology and Cell Therapy, Chiba Cancer Center Research Institute, Chiba, Japan. .,Department of Molecular Biology and Oncology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
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8
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Construction of a combinatorial library of chimeric tumor-specific promoters. Biotechniques 2017; 63:107-116. [PMID: 28911314 DOI: 10.2144/000114586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a fast-developing field of molecular medicine. New, effective, and cancer-specific promoters are in high demand by researchers seeking to treat cancer through expression of therapeutic genes. Here, we created a combinatorial library of tumor-specific chimeric promoter modules for identifying new promoters with desired functions. The library was constructed by randomly combining promoter fragments from eight human genes involved in cell proliferation control. The pool of chimeric promoters was inserted into a lentiviral expression vector upstream of the CopGFP reporter gene, transduced into A431 cells, and enriched for active promoters by cell sorting. The enriched library contained a remarkably high proportion of active and tumor-specific promoters. This approach to generating combinatorial libraries of chimeric promoters may serve as a useful tool for selecting highly specific and effective promoters for cancer research and gene therapy.
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9
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Glaser T, Han I, Wu L, Zeng X. Targeted Nanotechnology in Glioblastoma Multiforme. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:166. [PMID: 28408882 PMCID: PMC5374154 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas, and in particular glioblastoma multiforme, are aggressive brain tumors characterized by a poor prognosis and high rates of recurrence. Current treatment strategies are based on open surgery, chemotherapy (temozolomide) and radiotherapy. However, none of these treatments, alone or in combination, are considered effective in managing this devastating disease, resulting in a median survival time of less than 15 months. The efficiency of chemotherapy is mainly compromised by the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that selectively inhibits drugs from infiltrating into the tumor mass. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), with their unique biology and their resistance to both radio- and chemotherapy, compound tumor aggressiveness and increase the chances of treatment failure. Therefore, more effective targeted therapeutic regimens are urgently required. In this article, some well-recognized biological features and biomarkers of this specific subgroup of tumor cells are profiled and new strategies and technologies in nanomedicine that explicitly target CSCs, after circumventing the BBB, are detailed. Major achievements in the development of nanotherapies, such as organic poly(propylene glycol) and poly(ethylene glycol) or inorganic (iron and gold) nanoparticles that can be conjugated to metal ions, liposomes, dendrimers and polymeric micelles, form the main scope of this summary. Moreover, novel biological strategies focused on manipulating gene expression (small interfering RNA and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats [CRISPR]/CRISPR associated protein 9 [Cas 9] technologies) for cancer therapy are also analyzed. The aim of this review is to analyze the gap between CSC biology and the development of targeted therapies. A better understanding of CSC properties could result in the development of precise nanotherapies to fulfill unmet clinical needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talita Glaser
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of São PauloSão Paulo, Brazil
| | - Inbo Han
- Department of Neurosurgery, Spine Center, CHA University, CHA Bundang Medical CenterSeongnam, South Korea
| | - Liquan Wu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan UniversityWuhan, China
| | - Xiang Zeng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou, China
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10
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Shepelev MV, Kopantzev EP, Vinogradova TV, Sverdlov ED, Korobko IV. hTERT and BIRC5 gene promoters for cancer gene therapy: A comparative study. Oncol Lett 2016; 12:1204-1210. [PMID: 27446419 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and survivin (BIRC5) gene promoters are frequently used for transcriptional targeting of tumor cells, yet there is no comprehensive comparative analysis allowing rational choice of a promoter for a particular therapy. In the current study, the transcriptional activity of hTERT, human BIRC5 and mouse Birc5 promoters and their modifications were compared in 10 human cancer cell lines using the luciferase reporter gene activity assay. The results revealed that BIRC5- and hTERT-based promoters had strikingly different cell specificities with comparable activities in only 40% of cell lines. Importantly, relative hTERT and BIRC5 transcript abundance cannot be used to predict the most potent promoter. Among the hTERT-based promoters that were assessed, modification with the minimal cytomegalovirus promoter generally resulted in the most potent activity. Mouse Birc5 and modified human BIRC5 promoters were superior to the unmodified human survivin promoter; however, their tumor specificities must be investigated further. In summary, the present results emphasize the desirability for construction of more universal tumor-specific promoters to efficiently target a wide spectrum of tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail V Shepelev
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Eugene P Kopantzev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Tatiana V Vinogradova
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Eugene D Sverdlov
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia; Institute of Molecular Genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 123182, Russia
| | - Igor V Korobko
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 119334, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
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11
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Othman ER, Curiel DT, Hussein M, Abdelaal II, Fetih AN, Al-Hendy A. Enhancing Adenoviral-Mediated Gene Transfer and Expression to Endometrial Cells. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:1109-15. [PMID: 26865542 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116630420] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our aim was to screen a panel of modified adenoviral gene transfer vectors to identify those which can sustain high gene expression in human endometrial cells. METHODS Normal endometrial stromal cell cultures were established from endometrial lining of hysterectomy specimens performed for benign gynecologic indications. Human endometrial stromal cells were transfected by modified adenoviruses expressing luciferase reporter gene. Luciferase activity mediated by each virus was expressed as a percentage of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5-CMV-luc) activity. The 2-tailed Student t test was used to compare data. RESULTS At a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10 pfu/cell, of the transductionally modified adenoviruses, adenovirus-RGD (Ad-RGD-luc) mediated highest level of endometrial cell transduction with transgene expression around 4 times higher when compared to Ad5 (P < .001). Of the transcriptionally targeted adenoviruses, adenovirus under secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor promoter (Ad-SLPI-luc) and adenovirus under heparanase promoter (Ad-heparanase-luc)-mediated luciferase activation were 5.8- and 4.3-folds higher than Ad5-CMV-luc, respectively (P = .02 and .03, respectively). At MOI of 50 pfu/cell, Ad-RGD-luc and AD-SLPI-luc mediated significantly higher gene transfer efficiency compared to Ad5-CMV-luc (P values < .001, for each virus). Ad-heparanase-luc achieved higher gene activity, but difference was not significant (P = .1). Ad-SLPI-luc, at low viral dose (10 pfu/ cell), mediated gene expression effect comparable to Ad5-CMV-luc at a high dose (50 pfu/cell), with no significant difference. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that when compared to the wild-type adenovirus, Ad-RGD-luc, Ad-SLPI-luc, and Ad-heparanase-luc mediate higher reporter gene activity in endometrial cells and can work as effective gene transfer vectors in gene therapy applications to the endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam R Othman
- OB-GYN Department, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt Center of Excellence of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine CESCRM, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - David T Curiel
- Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University Medical School, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | - Ayman Al-Hendy
- OB-GYN Department, Georgia Regents University, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
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Kim JW, Young JS, Solomaha E, Kanojia D, Lesniak MS, Balyasnikova IV. A novel single-chain antibody redirects adenovirus to IL13Rα2-expressing brain tumors. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18133. [PMID: 26656559 PMCID: PMC4677343 DOI: 10.1038/srep18133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The generation of a targeting agent that strictly binds to IL13Rα2 will significantly expand the therapeutic potential for the treatment of IL13Rα2-expressing cancers. In order to fulfill this goal, we generated a single-chain antibody (scFv47) from our parental IL13Rα2 monoclonal antibody and tested its binding properties. Furthermore, to demonstrate the potential therapeutic applicability of scFv47, we engineered an adenovirus by incorporating scFv47 as the targeting moiety in the viral fiber and characterized its properties in vitro and in vivo. The scFv47 binds to human recombinant IL13Rα2, but not to IL13Rα1 with a high affinity of 0.9 · 10−9 M, similar to that of the parental antibody. Moreover, the scFv47 successfully redirects adenovirus to IL13Rα2 expressing glioma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Our data validate scFv47 as a highly selective IL13Rα2 targeting agent and justify further development of scFv47-modified oncolytic adenovirus and other therapeutics for the treatment of IL13Rα2-expressing glioma and other malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julius W Kim
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jacob S Young
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Elena Solomaha
- Biophysics Core Facility, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Deepak Kanojia
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Maciej S Lesniak
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Das SK, Menezes ME, Bhatia S, Wang XY, Emdad L, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Gene Therapies for Cancer: Strategies, Challenges and Successes. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:259-71. [PMID: 25196387 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 143] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy, which involves replacement of a defective gene with a functional, healthy copy of that gene, is a potentially beneficial cancer treatment approach particularly over chemotherapy, which often lacks selectivity and can cause non-specific toxicity. Despite significant progress pre-clinically with respect to both enhanced targeting and expression in a tumor-selective manner several hurdles still prevent success in the clinic, including non-specific expression, low-efficiency delivery and biosafety. Various innovative genetic approaches are under development to reconstruct vectors/transgenes to make them safer and more effective. Utilizing cutting-edge delivery technologies, gene expression can now be targeted in a tissue- and organ-specific manner. With these advances, gene therapy is poised to become amenable for routine cancer therapy with potential to elevate this methodology as a first line therapy for neoplastic diseases. This review discusses recent advances in gene therapy and their impact on a pre-clinical and clinical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Mitchell E Menezes
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Shilpa Bhatia
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Xiang-Yang Wang
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Luni Emdad
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Devanand Sarkar
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Paul B Fisher
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.,VCU Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
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Development of replication-competent adenovirus for bladder cancer by controlling adenovirus E1a and E4 gene expression with the survivin promoter. Oncotarget 2015; 5:5615-23. [PMID: 25015402 PMCID: PMC4170600 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Survivin is a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family. Here, we examined survivin expression and confirmed abundant survivin expression in bladder cancer cells. This expression pattern indicated that the transcriptional regulatory elements that control survivin expression could be utilized to discriminate cancer from normal cells. We therefore generated a novel adenovirus termed Ad5/35E1apsurvivinE4 with the following characteristics: 1) E1A and E4 protein expression was dependent on survivin promoter activity; 2) the green fluorescence protein gene was inserted into the genome under the control of the CMV promoter; 3) most of the E3 sequences were deleted, but the construct was still capable of expressing the adenovirus death protein with potent cytotoxic effects; and 4) the fiber knob was from serotype 35 adenovirus. As expected from the abundant survivin expression observed in bladder cancer cells, Ad5/35E1apsurvivinE4 replicated better in cancer cells than in normal cells by a factor of 106 to 102. Likewise, Ad5/35E1apsurvivinE4 exerted greater cytotoxic effects on all bladder cancer cell lines tested. Importantly, Ad5/35E1apsurvivinE4 inhibited the growth of Ku7-Luc orthotopic xenografts in nude mice. Taken together, Ad5/35E1apsurvivinE4 indicates that the survivin promoter may be utilized for the development of a replication-competent adenovirus to target bladder cancers.
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15
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A Double-Switch Cell Fusion-Inducible Transgene Expression System for Neural Stem Cell-Based Antiglioma Gene Therapy. Stem Cells Int 2015; 2015:649080. [PMID: 26074975 PMCID: PMC4436471 DOI: 10.1155/2015/649080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent progress in neural stem cell- (NSC-) based tumor-targeted gene therapy showed that NSC vectors expressing an artificially engineered viral fusogenic protein, VSV-G H162R, could cause tumor cell death specifically under acidic tumor microenvironment by syncytia formation; however, the killing efficiency still had much room to improve. In the view that coexpression of another antitumoral gene with VSV-G can augment the bystander effect, a synthetic regulatory system that triggers transgene expression in a cell fusion-inducible manner has been proposed. Here we have developed a double-switch cell fusion-inducible transgene expression system (DoFIT) to drive transgene expression upon VSV-G-mediated NSC-glioma cell fusion. In this binary system, transgene expression is coregulated by a glioma-specific promoter and targeting sequences of a microRNA (miR) that is highly expressed in NSCs but lowly expressed in glioma cells. Thus, transgene expression is "switched off" by the miR in NSC vectors, but after cell fusion with glioma cells, the miR is diluted and loses its suppressive effect. Meanwhile, in the syncytia, transgene expression is "switched on" by the glioma-specific promoter. Our in vitro and in vivo experimental data show that DoFIT successfully abolishes luciferase reporter gene expression in NSC vectors but activates it specifically after VSV-G-mediated NSC-glioma cell fusion.
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Detecting cancers through tumor-activatable minicircles that lead to a detectable blood biomarker. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:3068-73. [PMID: 25713388 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1414156112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Earlier detection of cancers can dramatically improve the efficacy of available treatment strategies. However, despite decades of effort on blood-based biomarker cancer detection, many promising endogenous biomarkers have failed clinically because of intractable problems such as highly variable background expression from nonmalignant tissues and tumor heterogeneity. In this work we present a tumor-detection strategy based on systemic administration of tumor-activatable minicircles that use the pan-tumor-specific Survivin promoter to drive expression of a secretable reporter that is detectable in the blood nearly exclusively in tumor-bearing subjects. After systemic administration we demonstrate a robust ability to differentiate mice bearing human melanoma metastases from tumor-free subjects for up to 2 wk simply by measuring blood reporter levels. Cumulative change in reporter levels also identified tumor-bearing subjects, and a receiver operator-characteristic curve analysis highlighted this test's performance with an area of 0.918 ± 0.084. Lung tumor burden additionally correlated (r(2) = 0.714; P < 0.05) with cumulative reporter levels, indicating that determination of disease extent was possible. Continued development of our system could improve tumor detectability dramatically because of the temporally controlled, high reporter expression in tumors and nearly zero background from healthy tissues. Our strategy's highly modular nature also allows it to be iteratively optimized over time to improve the test's sensitivity and specificity. We envision this system could be used first in patients at high risk for tumor recurrence, followed by screening high-risk populations before tumor diagnosis, and, if proven safe and effective, eventually may have potential as a powerful cancer-screening tool for the general population.
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Liu L, Rogers BE, Aladyshkina N, Cheng B, Lokitz SJ, Curiel DT, Mathis JM. Construction and Radiolabeling of Adenovirus Variants that Incorporate Human Metallothionein into Protein IX for Analysis of Biodistribution. Mol Imaging 2014; 13. [DOI: 10.2310/7290.2014.00022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lei Liu
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Buck E. Rogers
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Natalia Aladyshkina
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Bing Cheng
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - Stephen J. Lokitz
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - David T. Curiel
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
| | - J. Michael Mathis
- From the Gene Therapy Program, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, LSU Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Center for Molecular Imaging and Therapy, Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana, Shreveport, LA; and LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Baton Rouge, LA
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Abstract
Malignant brain cancer treatment is limited by a number of barriers, including the blood-brain barrier, transport within the brain interstitium, difficulties in delivering therapeutics specifically to tumor cells, the highly invasive quality of gliomas and drug resistance. As a result, the prognosis for patients with high-grade gliomas is poor and has improved little in recent years. Nanomedicine approaches have been developed in the laboratory, with some technologies being translated to the clinic, in order to address these needs. This review discusses the obstacles to effective treatment that are currently faced in the field, as well as various nanomedicine techniques that have been used or are being explored to overcome them, with a focus on liposomal and polymeric nanoparticles.
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Nair S, Saed GM, Atta HM, Rajaratnam V, Diamond MP, Curiel DT, Al-Hendy A. Towards gene therapy of postoperative adhesions: fiber and transcriptional modifications enhance adenovirus targeting towards human adhesion cells. Gynecol Obstet Invest 2013; 76:119-24. [PMID: 23920223 DOI: 10.1159/000353426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2013] [Accepted: 05/30/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Postoperative abdominal/pelvic peritoneal adhesions are a major source of morbidity (bowel obstruction, infertility, ectopic gestation as well as chronic pelvic pain) in women. In this study, we screened various transduction and transcription modifications of adenovirus (Ad) to identify those that support maximal Ad-mediated gene delivery to human adhesion fibroblasts, which in turn would enhance the efficacy of this novel treatment/preventative strategy for postoperative adhesions. We transduced primary cultures of human peritoneal adhesion fibroblasts with fiber-modified Ad vectors Ad5-RGD-luc, Ad5-Sigma-luc, Ad5/3-luc and Ad5-CAV2-luc as well as transcriptional targeting viruses Ad5-survivin-luc, Ad5-heparanase-luc, Ad5-mesothelin (MSLN)-CRAd-luc and Ad5-secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI)-luc, and compared their activity to wild-type Ad5-luc. At 48 h, luciferase activity was measured and normalized to the total protein content in the cells. Among the fiber-modified Ad vectors, Ad5-Sigma-luc and among the transcriptional targeting modified Ad vectors, Ad5-MSLN-CRAd-luc showed significantly increased expression levels of luciferase activity at 5, 10 and 50 plaque forming units/cell in adhesion fibroblast cells compared with wild-type Ad5-luc (p < 0.05). Specific modifications of Ad improve their gene delivery efficiency towards human peritoneal adhesion fibroblasts. Developing a safe localized method to prevent/treat postoperative adhesion formation would have a major impact on women health.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Nair
- Center for Women's Health Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tenn., USA
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20
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Ye F, Zhong B, Dan G, Jiang F, Sai Y, Zhao J, Sun H, Zou Z. Therapeutic anti-tumor effect of exogenous apoptin driven by human survivin gene promoter in a lentiviral construct. Arch Med Sci 2013; 9:561-8. [PMID: 23847683 PMCID: PMC3701987 DOI: 10.5114/aoms.2013.35423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2012] [Revised: 03/21/2012] [Accepted: 05/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to construct a lentivirus vector with survivin promoter (pSur)-driven apoptin and test its efficiency in suppressing the growth of tumor cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS Expression cassettes with different fragments of survivin gene promoter (pSur, 161 bp, 272 bp, 990 bp) driving 6XHis-tagged apoptin were constructed to generate recombinant lentivirus, of which the inhibitory effect on tumor cells was compared. The activity of different pSur in 293FT, and 272 bp pSur in primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), SW480, Hela and MCF-7 was examined by Western blot. Their ability to induce apoptosis in SW480 cells was determined by annexin-V staining. The inhibitory effect of letivirus containing different pSur-driven apoptin on nude mice-xenografted SW480 cells was assessed by tumor size and pathological observation. RESULTS The 272 bp and 990 bp pSur displayed comparable effects in terms of promoter activity, cell apoptosis/necrosis and G1 phase arrest in vitro, and growth of xenograft tumor in vivo. When lentivirus containing 272 bp pSur was tested, it drove high apoptin expression in tumor cells (SW480, Hela and MCF-7) and weak expression in primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Xenograft to nude mice using infected Sw480 cells showed that lentiviruses possessing 272 bp and 990 bp pSur were able to significantly induce tumor cell death, focal necrosis, and tumor growth lag. CONCLUSIONS The data indicated that pSur-apoptin expression cassette in lentivirus vector ensures specific suppression of tumor cells, and may be applicable to monitor malignant transformation of transplanted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Ye
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Bo Zhong
- Department of Oncology, Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Guorong Dan
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Fan Jiang
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan Sai
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jiqing Zhao
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Huiqin Sun
- Institute of Combined Injury, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongmin Zou
- Institute of Toxicology, School of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Auffinger B, Ahmed AU, Lesniak MS. Oncolytic virotherapy for malignant glioma: translating laboratory insights into clinical practice. Front Oncol 2013; 3:32. [PMID: 23443138 PMCID: PMC3580888 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 02/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme, one of the most common and aggressive brain tumors in adults, is highly resistant to currently available therapies and often recurs. Due to its poor prognosis and difficult management, there is an urgent need for the development and translation of new anti-glioma therapeutic approaches into the clinic. In this context, oncolytic virotherapy arises as an exciting treatment option for glioma patients. These natural or genetically engineered viruses are able to effectively infect cancer cells, inducing a specific anti-tumor cytotoxic effect. In addition, some viruses have been redesigned to modulate glioma microenvironment, to express cytokines to boost a systemic anti-glioma immune response and to incorporate angiostatic genes to decrease glioma vasculature. Although recent clinical trials have confirmed the safety of oncolytic virotherapies in the brain, their moderate clinical efficacy has not yet matched the encouraging preclinical laboratory results. In this review, we will discuss the leading anti-glioma virotherapy approaches that are presently under preclinical and clinical evaluation. We will also review different delivery methods, in vivo virus behavior, fate, replication, intratumoral spread, activation of anti-tumor immune response, and targeting of glioma stem cells. We will focus on the advantages and limitations of each therapeutic approach and how to overcome these hurdles to effectively translate exciting laboratory results into promising clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda Auffinger
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago Chicago, IL, USA
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22
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Das SK, Sarkar S, Dash R, Dent P, Wang XY, Sarkar D, Fisher PB. Chapter One---Cancer terminator viruses and approaches for enhancing therapeutic outcomes. Adv Cancer Res 2013; 115:1-38. [PMID: 23021240 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398342-8.00001-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
No single or combinatorial therapeutic approach has proven effective in decreasing morbidity or engendering a cure of metastatic cancer. In principle, conditionally replication-competent adenoviruses that induce tumor oncolysis through cancer-specific replication hold promise for cancer therapy. However, a single-agent approach may not be adequate to completely eradicate cancer in a patient because most cancers arise from abnormalities in multiple genetic and signal transduction pathways and targeting disseminated metastases is difficult to achieve. Based on these considerations, a novel class of cancer destroying adenoviruses have been produced, cancer terminator viruses (CTVs), in which cancer-specific replication is controlled by the progression-elevated gene-3 promoter and replicating viruses produce a second transgene encoding an apoptosis-inducing and immunomodulatory cytokine, either melanoma differentiation-associated gene-7/interleukin-24 (mda-7/IL-24) or interferon-γ. This review focuses on these viruses and ways to improve their delivery systemically and enhance their therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swadesh K Das
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
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23
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Comparison of prostate-specific promoters and the use of PSP-driven virotherapy for prostate cancer. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:624632. [PMID: 23484134 PMCID: PMC3581130 DOI: 10.1155/2013/624632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/19/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men today. Although virus-based gene therapy is a promising strategy to combat advanced prostate cancer, its current effectiveness is limited partially due to inefficient cellular transduction in vivo. To overcome this obstacle, conditional oncolytic viruses (such as conditional replication adenovirus (CRAD)) are developed to specifically target prostate without (or with minimal) systemic toxicity due to viral self-replication. In this study, we have analyzed and compared three prostate-specific promoters (PSA, probasin, and MMTV LTR) for their specificity and activity both in vitro and in vivo. Both mice model with xenograft prostate tumor model and canine model were used. The best PSP was selected to construct a prostate-specific oncolytic adenovirus (CRAD) by controlling the adenoviral E1 region. The efficacy and specificity of CRAD on prostate cancer cells were examined in cell culture and animal models.
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Li X, Mao Q, Wang D, Xia H. A novel Ad5/11 chimeric oncolytic adenovirus for improved glioma therapy. Int J Oncol 2012; 41:2159-65. [PMID: 23117867 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2012.1674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Accepted: 08/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective therapies are needed for malignant glioma patients because of the poor prognosis. Gene therapy combined with virotherapy could be the strategy of choice. In this study, we constructed a modified conditionally replicating adenoviral vector CRAd5/11-Sp-eGFP. The novel vector has the following features: i) the transduction efficiency of CRAd5 was increased using a chimeric fiber 5/11 consisting of an Ad5 tail and an Ad11 shaft and knob; ii) the tumor-specific replication of the vector was improved by utilizing the human survivin promoter to control E1 expression and a poly-A signal inserted right after the inverted terminal repeat (ITR) to stop the non-specific transcriptional activity of the ITR; iii) an expression cassette was inserted into the region between the fiber and E4 region for expressing eGFP. In vitro assays demonstrated that the novel vector could efficiently replicate and kill human glioma cells. Furthermore, CRAd5/11‑Sp-eGFP exhibited significantly increased antitumor effects compared with the control adenoviruses in a xenograft model of glioma. Our results indicate that CRAd5/11-Sp-eGFP represents a promising candidate drug in the treatment of malignant gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Li
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, PR China
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25
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Friedman GK, Cassady KA, Beierle EA, Markert JM, Gillespie GY. Targeting pediatric cancer stem cells with oncolytic virotherapy. Pediatr Res 2012; 71:500-10. [PMID: 22430386 PMCID: PMC3607376 DOI: 10.1038/pr.2011.58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also termed "cancer-initiating cells" or "cancer progenitor cells," which have the ability to self-renew, proliferate, and maintain the neoplastic clone, have recently been discovered in a wide variety of pediatric tumors. These CSCs are thought to be responsible for tumorigenesis and tumor maintenance, aggressiveness, and recurrence due to inherent resistance to current treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and radiation. Oncolytic virotherapy offers a novel, targeted approach for eradicating pediatric CSCs using mechanisms of cell killing that differ from conventional therapies. Moreover, oncolytic viruses have the ability to target specific features of CSCs such as cell-surface proteins, transcription factors, and the CSC microenvironment. Through genetic engineering, a wide variety of foreign genes may be expressed by oncolytic viruses to augment the oncolytic effect. We review the current data regarding the ability of several types of oncolytic viruses (herpes simplex virus-1, adenovirus, reovirus, Seneca Valley virus, vaccinia virus, Newcastle disease virus, myxoma virus, vesicular stomatitis virus) to target and kill both CSCs and tumor cells in pediatric tumors. We highlight advantages and limitations of each virus and potential ways in which next-generation engineered viruses may target resilient CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory K. Friedman
- Department of Pediatrics [G.K.F., K.A.C.], University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233
| | - Kevin A. Cassady
- Department of Pediatrics [G.K.F., K.A.C.], University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233
| | - Elizabeth A. Beierle
- Department of Surgery [E.A.B, J.M.M., G.Y.G], University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233
| | - James M. Markert
- Department of Surgery [E.A.B, J.M.M., G.Y.G], University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233
| | - G. Yancey Gillespie
- Department of Surgery [E.A.B, J.M.M., G.Y.G], University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35233
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Kim YI, Ahn BC, Ronald JA, Katzenberg R, Singh A, Paulmurugan R, Ray S, Gambhir SS, Hofmann LV. Intratumoral versus intravenous gene therapy using a transcriptionally targeted viral vector in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma rat model. J Vasc Interv Radiol 2012; 23:704-11. [PMID: 22387029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvir.2012.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2011] [Revised: 12/19/2011] [Accepted: 01/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the feasibility of intratumoral delivery of adenoviral vector carrying a bidirectional two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system to amplify transcriptional strength of cancer-specific Survivin promoter in a hepatocellular carcinoma model. MATERIALS AND METHODS MCA-RH7777 cells were implanted in rat liver, and tumor formation was confirmed with [(18)F]fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET). The adenoviral vector studied had Survivin promoter driving a therapeutic gene (tumor necrosis factor-α-related apoptosis-inducing ligand [TRAIL]) and a reporter gene (firefly luciferase [FL]; Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL). Tumor-bearing rats were administered Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL intravenously (n = 7) or intratumorally (n = 8). For control groups, adenovirus FL under cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (Ad-pCMV-FL) was administered intravenously (n = 3) or intratumorally (n = 3). One day after delivery, bioluminescence imaging was performed to evaluate transduction. At 4 and 7 days after delivery, 18F-FDG-PET was performed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. RESULTS With intravenous delivery, Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed no measurable liver tumor FL signal on day 1 after delivery, but showed better therapeutic efficacy than Ad-pCMV-FL on day 7 (PET tumor/liver ratio, 3.5 ± 0.58 vs 6.0 ± 0.71; P = .02). With intratumoral delivery, Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed positive FL signal from all tumors and better therapeutic efficacy than Ad-pCMV-FL on day 7 (2.4 ± 0.50 vs 5.4 ± 0.78; P = .01). In addition, intratumoral delivery of Ad-pSurvivin-TSTA-TRAIL-FL demonstrated significant decrease in tumoral viability compared with intravenous delivery (2.4 ± 0.50 vs 3.5 ± 0.58; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS Intratumoral delivery of a transcriptionally targeted therapeutic vector for amplifying tumor-specific effect demonstrated better transduction efficiency and therapeutic efficacy for liver cancer than systemic delivery, and may lead to improved therapeutic outcome for future clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Il Kim
- Division of Interventional Radiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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Murali A, Kasman L, Voelkel-Johnson C. Adenoviral infectivity of exfoliated viable cells in urine: implications for the detection of bladder cancer. BMC Cancer 2011; 11:168. [PMID: 21569442 PMCID: PMC3112159 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bladder cancer, the 5th most common malignancy in the USA, is often detected as a result of incidental findings or by presenting hematuria. Once diagnosed the disease is one of the costliest cancers to treat due to frequent, invasive and often lifelong follow-up procedures. Because cells are shed into urine, there has been an emerging effort to develop non-invasive tests for the detection of bladder cancer. Expression of survivin, a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, has been associated with bladder cancer. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of transducing viable exfoliated cells obtained from urine with an adenoviral vector in which a reporter gene is under the control of the survivin promoter. Methods Exfoliated cells from urine were obtained from 36 human subjects (> 40 years old). An adenovirus in which GFP expression is under control of the survivin promoter (Ad.Surv.GFP) was generated. An adenovirus in which GFP is expressed from the CMV promoter served as a control. GFP expression was analyzed by fluorescent microscopy and quantified by flow cytometry. Results Short-term cultures from exfoliated cells in urine could be established in 16 of 31 samples. These cultures were successfully transduced with Ad.CMV.GFP. Analysis of GFP expression following transduction with Ad.Surv.GFP, indicated that the survivin promoter was preferentially active in UM-UC-3 bladder cancer cells compared to non-malignant UROtsa cells. Interestingly, baseline levels of GFP expression in cultures from exfoliated cells in urine exhibited higher baseline levels than UROtsa following transduction with Ad.Surv.GFP. Conclusions We demonstrated the feasibility of establishing and analysing short-term cultures isolated from exfoliated cells in voided urine by means of adenoviral transduction, thereby forming the foundation for future studies to determine the specificity and sensitivity of a non-invasive test based on survivin promoter activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anuradha Murali
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) are a very small subset of all cancer cells and possess characteristics very similar to normal stem cells, in particular, the capacity for self-renewal, multipotency and relative quiescence. These chemo- and radiation resistant cells are responsible for maintaining tumor volume leading to therapy failure and recurrence. In glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common primary intracranial malignancy, glioma stem cells have been implicated as one of the key players in treatment failure. Many novel treatment modalities are being investigated to specifically target this small group of cells. In this review, we shed light on one such targeted therapy, specifically, oncolytic virotherapy, and review the literature to highlight the advances and challenges in designing effective oncolytic virotherapy for glioma stem cells.
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Potent, tumor-specific gene expression in an orthotopic hepatoma rat model using a Survivin-targeted, amplifiable adenoviral vector. Gene Ther 2011; 18:606-12. [PMID: 21307888 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ideal cancer gene therapies should have high tumor specificity and efficacy, and allow systemic administration to target metastases. We recently developed a bi-directional, two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system driven by the tumor-specific Survivin promoter (pSurv) to amplify the correlated expression of both the reporter gene firefly luciferase (FL) and therapeutic gene tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). Here, we compare the specificity and potency of an adenovirus carrying this system (Ad-pSurv-TSTA-TRAIL-FL) to a nonspecific vector (Ad-pCMV-FL) in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) rat model after systemic administration. At 24 h after injection of Ad-pCMV-FL, bioluminescence imaging revealed a trend (P=0.30) towards greater FL expression in liver versus tumor. In striking contrast, Ad-pSurv-TSTA-TRAIL-FL showed increased FL activity within the tumor compared with the liver (P<0.01), a strong trend towards reduced liver expression compared with Ad-pCMV-FL (P=0.07), and importantly, similar FL levels within tumor compared with Ad-pCMV-FL (P=0.32). Hence, this vector shows potent, tumor-specific transgene expression even after extensive liver transduction and may be of significant value in avoiding hepatotoxicity in HCC patients. Future studies will explore the benefits of tumor-specific TRAIL expression in this model, the potential to target metastases and the extension of this vector for the treatment of other Survivin-positive tumors is warranted.
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Paupoo AAV, Zhu ZB, Wang M, Rein DT, Starzinski-Powitz A, Curiel DT. A conditionally replicative adenovirus, CRAd-S-pK7, can target endometriosis with a cell-killing effect. Hum Reprod 2010; 25:2068-83. [PMID: 20573677 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deq137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Novel therapeutic approaches for endometriosis based on molecular strategies may prove to be useful. Conditionally replicative adenoviruses (CRAds) are designed to exploit key differences between target and normal cells. The wild-type adenovirus (Adwt) promoter can be replaced by tissue-specific promoters, allowing viral replication only in target cells. Viral infectivity can be enhanced by altering Ad tropism via fiber modification. We investigated whether CRAds can be used to target endometriosis and determined the most efficient transcriptional- and transductional-targeting strategy. METHODS An in vitro study was carried out using human endometriotic cell lines, 11Z (epithelial) and 22B (stromal), normal human ovarian surface epithelial cell line (NOSE006) and primary human endometriosis cells. A total of 9 promoters and 12 Ad tropism modifications were screened by means of a luciferase reporter assay. From this screening data, three CRAds (CRAd-S-pK7, CRAd-S-RGD, CRAd-S-F5/3sigma1, all incorporating the survivin promoter but with different fiber modifications) were selected to perform experiments using Adwt and a replication-deficient virus as controls. CRAds were constructed using a plasmid recombination system. Viral-binding capacity, rates of entry and DNA replication were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR of viral genome copy. Cell-killing effects were determined by crystal violet staining and a cell viability assay for different concentrations of viral particles per cell. RESULTS Comparison of promoters demonstrated that the survivin promoter exhibited the highest induction in both endometriotic cell lines. Among the fiber-modified viruses, the polylysine modification (pK7) showed the best infection enhancement. CRAd-S-pK7 was validated as the optimal CRAd to target endometriosis in terms of binding ability, entry kinetics, DNA replication and cell-killing effect. CRAd-S-pK7 also exhibited a high level of DNA replication in primary endometriosis cells. CONCLUSIONS CRAd-S-pK7 has the best infection and cell-killing effect in the context of endometriosis. It could prove to be a useful novel method to target refractory cases of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A V Paupoo
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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Mityaev MV, Kopantzev EP, Buzdin AA, Vinogradova TV, Sverdlov ED. Enhancer element potentially involved in human survivin gene promoter regulation in lung cancer cell lines. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2010; 75:182-91. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006297910020082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Lu Y, Madu CO. Viral-based gene delivery and regulated gene expression for targeted cancer therapy. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2010; 7:19-35. [PMID: 19947888 DOI: 10.1517/17425240903419608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD Cancer is both a major health concern and a care-cost issue in the US and the rest of the world. It is estimated that there will be a total of 1,479,350 new cancer cases and 562,340 cancer deaths in 2009 within the US alone. One of the major obstacles in cancer therapy is the ability to target specifically cancer cells. Most existing chemotherapies and other routine therapies (such as radiation therapy and hormonal manipulation) use indiscriminate approaches in which both cancer cells and non-cancerous surrounding cells are treated equally by the toxic treatment. As a result, either the cancer cell escapes the toxic dosage necessary for cell death and consequently resumes replication, or an adequate lethal dose that kills the cancer cell also causes the cancer patient to perish. Owing to this dilemma, cancer- or organ/tissue-specific targeting is greatly desired for effective cancer treatment and the reduction of side effect cytotoxicity within the patient. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW In this review, the strategies of targeted cancer therapy are discussed, with an emphasis on viral-based gene delivery and regulated gene expression. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN Numerous approaches and updates in this field are presented for several common cancer types. TAKE HOME MESSAGE A summary of existing challenges and future directions is also included.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Lu
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cancer Research Building, Room 218, 19 South Manassas Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
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Nandi S, Ulasov IV, Rolle CE, Han Y, Lesniak MS. A chimeric adenovirus with an Ad 3 fiber knob modification augments glioma virotherapy. J Gene Med 2010; 11:1005-11. [PMID: 19688792 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Malignant gliomas remain refractory to treatment despite advances in chemotherapy and surgical techniques. Viral vectors developed to treat gliomas have had low transduction capabilities, limiting their use. Gliomas over-express CD46, CD80, and CD86, all of which bind adenovirus serotype 3. METHODS To increase the infectivity and replication of oncolytic vectors in malignant brain tumors, we created a conditionally replicating adenovirus, CRAd-Survivin-5/3, which contains a survivin promoter-driving E1A and a chimeric fiber consisting of adenovirus serotype 3 knob. RESULTS In vitro, this modified CRAd showed ten- to 100-fold increased cytotoxicity against glioma cells. Ex vivo analysis of primary glioblastoma multiforme samples infected with CRAd-Survivin-5/3 showed an increase in cytotoxicity of 20-30% compared to adenovirus wild-type (AdWT). In normal human astrocytes and normal brain tissues, CRAd-Survivin-5/3 exhibited 30-40% and 10-15% lower cytotoxicity than AdWT, respectively. In an intracranial xenograft model of glioma, this oncolytic virus increased tumor-free survival and overall lifespan by 50% compared to controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS CRAd-Survivin-5/3 represents an attractive alternative to existing vectors and should be tested further in the pre-clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvobroto Nandi
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Kranzler J, Tyler MA, Sonabend AM, Ulasov IV, Lesniak MS. Stem cells as delivery vehicles for oncolytic adenoviral virotherapy. Curr Gene Ther 2010; 9:389-95. [PMID: 19860653 DOI: 10.2174/156652309789753347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common primary intracranial tumor in humans. Despite continued advances in cancer therapy, the outcome for patients diagnosed with this disease remains bleak. Novel treatments involving the use of conditionally replicating adenoviruses (CRAds) to target malignant brain tumors have undergone extensive research and proven to be a promising mode of glioblastoma therapy. CRAds are genetically manipulated to replicate within tumor cells, exhibiting a high degree of infectivity, cytotoxicity, and transgene expression. While the use of various CRAds has been deemed safe for intracranial injection in preclinical trials, a significant therapeutic effect has yet to be seen in patients. This shortcoming stems from the distribution limitations involved with local delivery of virolytic agents. To enhance this modality of treatment, stem cells have been explored as cellular vehicles in virotherapy applications, given that they possess an intrinsic tropism for malignant brain tumors. Stem cell loaded CRAd delivery offers a more specific and effective method of targeting disseminated tumor cells and forms the basis for this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Kranzler
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Garg H, Salcedo R, Trinchieri G, Blumenthal R. Improved nonviral cancer suicide gene therapy using survivin promoter-driven mutant Bax. Cancer Gene Ther 2009; 17:155-63. [PMID: 19816523 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2009.63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Suicide gene vectors are being developed in many laboratories as an attractive approach to cancer therapy. However, the development of these therapies is hampered by safety concerns and limitations of efficacy. The use of tumor-specific promoters, such as survivin promoter, can provide much needed specificity to target tumor cells. However, the expression levels from these promoters is often suboptimal and hence it is imperative to enhance the activity of the cytotoxic gene of interest. We tested apoptotic activity of several mutants of proapoptotic gene bax that constitutively translocate to the mitochondria and induce apoptosis. One of these mutants with deletion of serine at position S184 (S184del) was found to be most active and showed significant antitumor activity when expressed by the survivin promoter. In vitro testing shows that this vector (Sur-BaxS184del) induces cell killing in a variety of tumor cell lines of different origin with significantly higher efficacy than wild-type bax (Sur-BaxWT). The increase in cytotoxicity was a result of enhanced induction of apoptosis in tumor cells. In contrast to cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter-driven bax (CMV-Bax), Sur-BaxS184del caused minimum toxicity in normal human dermal fibroblasts validating its specificity and safety. In a mouse tumor model (DA-3, murine breast cancer cells), we show that intratumoral injection of Sur-BaxS184del resulted in tumor growth retardation to the same level as CMV-Bax. This study highlights the effectiveness of using bax mutants in combination with survivin promoter for tumor-targeted suicide gene therapy in a nonviral vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Garg
- Nanobiology Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201, USA
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Ulasov IV, Tyler MA, Zhu ZB, Han Y, He TC, Lesniak MS. Oncolytic adenoviral vectors which employ the survivin promoter induce glioma oncolysis via a process of beclin-dependent autophagy. Int J Oncol 2009; 34:729-42. [PMID: 19212678 DOI: 10.3892/ijo_00000199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Survivin has gained attention as a tumor-specific marker which is upregulated in a variety of neoplasms. Although the survivin protein is implicated in anti-apoptotic tumor pathways, little is known about the function of the survivin promoter. In this study, we constructed a conditionally replicative adenoviral vector (CRAd) that utilizes the survivin promoter and examined the mechanism of CRAd induced cell death in malignant glioma. Our results indicate that CRAd vectors which utilize the survivin promoter effectively replicate in glioma cells and exhibit a high oncolytic effect. The survivin-mediated CRAd appeared to induce apoptosis as measured by Annexin/7-AAD. Caspase-3 and BAX mRNAs were upregulated based on microarray data, however, Western blot analysis of infected cells showed no evidence of elevated caspase-3, BAX, or p53 protein expression. Of note, at each time point infected glioma cells showed no evidence of activated BAD or AKT. The inhibition of AKT signaling led us to examine autophagy in infected cells. Electron micrographs of virally infected glioma cells suggested auto-phagosomal-mediated cell death and selective blocking of beclin with siRNA prevented autophagy. These results indicate that the survivin promoter enhances viral replication and induces autophagy of infected glioma cells via a beclin-dependent mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilya V Ulasov
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common form of primary brain cancer. In the past decade, virotherapy of tumors has gained credence, particularly in glioma management, as these tumors are not completely resectable and tend to micro-metastasize. Adenoviral vectors have an advantage over other viral vectors in that they are relatively non-toxic and do not integrate in the genome. However, the lack of coxsackie and adenovirus receptors on surface of gliomas provides for inefficient transduction of wild-type adenoviral vectors in these tumors. By targeting receptors that are overexpressed in gliomas, modified adenoviral constructs have been shown to efficiently infect glioma cells. In addition, by taking advantage of tumor-specific promoter elements, oncolytic adenoviral vectors offer the promise of selective tumor-specific replication. This dual targeting strategy has enabled specificity in both laboratory and pre-clinical settings. This review examines current trends in adenoviral virotherapy of gliomas, with an emphasis on targeting modalities and future clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvobroto Nandi
- The University of Chicago, The Brain Tumor Center, Chicago, Illinois 60637, USA
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Gene therapy of benign gynecological diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2009; 61:822-35. [PMID: 19446586 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2009.04.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2009] [Accepted: 04/28/2009] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is the introduction of genetic material into patient's cells to achieve therapeutic benefit. Advances in molecular biology techniques and better understanding of disease pathogenesis have validated the use of a variety of genes as potential molecular targets for gene therapy based approaches. Gene therapy strategies include: mutation compensation of dysregulated genes; replacement of defective tumor-suppressor genes; inactivation of oncogenes; introduction of suicide genes; immunogenic therapy and antiangiogenesis based approaches. Preclinical studies of gene therapy for various gynecological disorders have not only shown to be feasible, but also showed promising results in diseases such as uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis. In recent years, significant improvement in gene transfer technology has led to the development of targetable vectors, which have fewer side-effects without compromising their efficacy. This review provides an update on developing gene therapy approaches to treat common gynecological diseases such as uterine leiomyoma and endometriosis.
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Dey M, Ulasov IV, Lesniak MS. Virotherapy against malignant glioma stem cells. Cancer Lett 2009; 289:1-10. [PMID: 19643532 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.04.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2009] [Revised: 04/14/2009] [Accepted: 04/16/2009] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme, the most common primary intracranial malignancy, is associated with very poor outcome despite advances in surgical techniques and chemo- and radiation therapy. Many novel treatment modalities are being investigated with varying amount of success. Evolution of cancer stem cell hypothesis provides a new venue for developmental therapeutics. In this review, we highlight the literature regarding the existence of glioma stem cells and their characteristics. We also discuss the potential for virotherapy, a novel therapeutic approach utilizing conditionally replicative viruses, to directly target this population of self-renewing cancer stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahua Dey
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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Parker JN, Bauer DF, Cody JJ, Markert JM. Oncolytic viral therapy of malignant glioma. Neurotherapeutics 2009; 6:558-69. [PMID: 19560745 PMCID: PMC3980727 DOI: 10.1016/j.nurt.2009.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2009] [Accepted: 04/24/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel approaches to treatment of malignant glioma, the most frequently occurring primary brain tumor, have included the use of a wide range of oncolytic viral vectors. These vectors, either naturally tumor-selective, or engineered as such, have shown promise in the handful of phase I and phase II clinical trials conducted in recent years. The strategies developed for each of the different viruses currently being studied and the history of their development are summarized here. In addition, the results of clinical trials in patients and their implication for future trials are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Nuss Parker
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 Birmingham, Alabama
| | - David F. Bauer
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 Birmingham, Alabama
| | - James J. Cody
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 Birmingham, Alabama
| | - James M. Markert
- grid.265892.20000000106344187Department of Surgery, Division of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 35294 Birmingham, Alabama
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He LF, Wang YG, Xiao T, Zhang KJ, Li GC, Gu JF, Chu L, Tang WH, Tan WS, Liu XY. Suppression of cancer growth in mice by adeno-associated virus vector-mediated IFN-beta expression driven by hTERT promoter. Cancer Lett 2009; 286:196-205. [PMID: 19564073 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2009.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2008] [Revised: 04/23/2009] [Accepted: 05/25/2009] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has rapidly become a promising gene delivery vehicle for its excellent advantages of non-immunogenic, low pathogenicity and long-term gene expression in vivo. However, a major obstacle in development of effective AAV vector is the lack of tissue specificity, which caused low efficiency of AAV transfer to target cells. The application of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter is a prior targeting strategy for AAV in cancer gene therapy as hTERT activity is transcriptionally upregulated in most cancer cells. In the present work, we investigated whether AAV-mediated human interferon beta (IFN-beta) gene driven by hTERT promoter could specifically express in tumor cells and suppress tumor cell growth. Our data demonstrated that hTERT promoter-driven IFN-beta expression was the tumor-specific, decreased the cell viability of tumor cells but not normal cells, and induced tumor cell apoptosis via activation of caspase pathway and release of cytochrome c. AAV-mediated IFN-beta expression driven by hTERT promoter significantly suppressed the growth of colorectal cancer and lung cancer xenograft in mice and resulted in tumor cells death in vivo. These data suggested that AAVs in combination with hTERT-mediated IFN-beta expression could exert potential antitumor activity and provide a novel targeting approach to clinical gene therapy of varieties of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Feng He
- Xinyuan Institute of Medicine and Biotechnology, College of Life Science, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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Balani P, Boulaire J, Zhao Y, Zeng J, Lin J, Wang S. High mobility group box2 promoter-controlled suicide gene expression enables targeted glioblastoma treatment. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1003-11. [PMID: 19240692 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Achievement of specific tumor cell targeting remains a challenge for glioma gene therapy. We observed that the human high mobility group box2 (HMGB2) gene had a low level of expression in normal human brain tissues, but was significantly upregulated in glioblastoma tissues. With progressive truncation of a 5'-upstream sequence of the HMGB2 gene, we identified a 0.5-kb fragment displaying a high transcriptional activity in glioblastoma cells, but a low activity in normal brain cells. To test the feasibility of using the HMGB2 promoter sequence in targeted cancer therapy, we constructed a baculoviral vector expressing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) gene driven by the HMGB2 promoter. Transduction with the viral vector induced cell death in glioblastoma cell lines in the presence of ganciclovir (GCV), but did not affect the survival of human astrocytes and neurons. In a mouse xenograft model, intratumor injection of the baculoviral vector suppressed the growth of human glioblastoma cells and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. Our results suggest that the novel 5' sequence of HMGB2 gene has a potential to be used as an efficient, tumor-selective promoter in targeted vectors for glioblastoma gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Poonam Balani
- Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Singapore
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Sonabend AM, Ulasov IV, Han Y, Rolle CE, Nandi S, Cao D, Tyler MA, Lesniak MS. Biodistribution of an oncolytic adenovirus after intracranial injection in permissive animals: a comparative study of Syrian hamsters and cotton rats. Cancer Gene Ther 2008; 16:362-72. [PMID: 19011597 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2008.80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Conditionally replicative adenoviruses (CRAds) are often evaluated in mice; however, normal and cancerous mouse tissues are poorly permissive for human CRAds. As the cotton rat (CR) is a semipermissive animal and the Syrian hamster (SH) is a fully permissive model for adenoviral replication, we compared them in a single study following intracranial (i.c.) injection of a novel glioma-targeting CRAd. Viral genomic copies were quantified by real-time PCR in brain, blood, liver and lung. The studies were corroborated by immunohistochemical, serological and immunological assays. CR had a multiple log higher susceptibility for adenoviral infection than SH. A similar amount of genomic copies of CRAd-Survivin-pk7 and human adenovirus serotype 5 (AdWT) was found in the brain of CR and in all organs from SH. In blood and lung of CR, AdWT had more genomic copies than CRAd-Survivin-pk7 in some of the time points studied. Viral antigens were confirmed in brain slices, an elevation of serum transaminases was observed in both models, and an increase in anti-adenoviral antibodies was detected in SH sera. In conclusion, CR represents a sensitive model for studying biodistribution of CRAds after i.c. delivery, allowing for the detection of differences in the replication of CRAd-Survivin-pk7 and AdWT that were not evident in SH.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Sonabend
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Shirai K, Suzuki Y, Oka K, Noda SE, Katoh H, Suzuki Y, Itoh J, Itoh H, Ishiuchi S, Sakurai H, Hasegawa M, Nakano T. Nuclear survivin expression predicts poorer prognosis in glioblastoma. J Neurooncol 2008; 91:353-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-008-9720-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2008] [Accepted: 10/13/2008] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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Ray S, Paulmurugan R, Patel MR, Ahn BC, Wu L, Carey M, Gambhir SS. Noninvasive imaging of therapeutic gene expression using a bidirectional transcriptional amplification strategy. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1848-56. [PMID: 18766175 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Promoters that limit transgene expression to tumors play a vital role in cancer gene therapy. Although tumor specific, the human Survivin promoter (pSurv) elicits low levels of transcription. A bidirectional two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system was designed to enhance expression of the therapeutic gene (TG) tumor necrosis factor-alpha-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL or TR) and the reporter gene firefly luciferase (FL) from pSurv. An adenoviral vector carrying the enhanced targeting apparatus (Ad-pSurv-TR-G8-FL) was tested for efficiency and specificity of gene expression in cells and in living animals. Compared to the one-step systems (Ad-pSurv-FL or Ad-pSurv-TR), the bidirectional TSTA system showed tenfold higher expression of both the therapeutic and the reporter gene and their expression correlated in cells (R(2) = 0.99) and in animals (R(2) = 0.67). Noninvasive quantitative monitoring of magnitude and time variation of TRAIL gene expression was feasible by bioluminescence imaging of the transcriptionally linked FL gene in xenograft tumors following intratumoral adenoviral injection. Moreover, the TSTA adenovirus maintained promoter specificity in nontarget tissues following tail vein administration. These studies demonstrate the potential of the bidirectional TSTA system to achieve high levels of gene expression from a weak promoter, while preserving specificity and the ability to image expression of the TG noninvasively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunetra Ray
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Nandi S, Ulasov IV, Tyler MA, Sugihara AQ, Molinero L, Han Y, Zhu ZB, Lesniak MS. Low-dose radiation enhances survivin-mediated virotherapy against malignant glioma stem cells. Cancer Res 2008; 68:5778-84. [PMID: 18632631 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-07-6441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
To improve the efficacy and selectivity of virotherapy for malignant glioma, we designed a strategy to amplify adenoviral replication in conjunction with radiotherapy using a radioinducible promoter. First, we compared the radiation-inducible activity of FLT-1, vascular endothelial growth factor, DR5, Cox2, and survivin. We then examined the capacity of the optimal promoter to modulate transgene expression followed by E1A activity in vitro and in vivo in a glioma stem cell model. In the presence of radiation, survivin mRNA activity increased 10-fold. Luciferase transgene expression was dose dependent and optimal at 2 Gy. A novel oncolytic adenovirus, CRAd-Survivin-pk7, showed significant toxicity and replication against a panel of passaged and primary CD133(+) glioma stem cells. On delivery of radiation, the toxicity associated with CRAd-Survivin-pk7 increased by 20% to 50% (P < 0.05). At the same time, the level of E1A activity increased 3- to 10-fold. In vivo, treatment of U373MG CD133(+) stem cells with CRAd-Survivin-pk7 and radiation significantly inhibited tumor growth (P < 0.05). At the same time, the level of E1A activity was 100-fold increased versus CRAd-Survivin-pk7 alone. Selected genes linked to radioinducible promoters whose expression can be regulated by ionizing radiation may improve the therapeutic ratio of virotherapy. In this study, we have identified a new radioinducible promoter, survivin, which greatly enhances the activity of an oncolytic adenovirus in the presence of low-dose radiotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suvobroto Nandi
- The Brain Tumor Center, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Othman EER, Zhu ZB, Curiel DT, Khatoon N, Salem HT, Khalifa EADM, Al-Hendy A. Toward gene therapy of endometriosis: transductional and transcriptional targeting of adenoviral vectors to endometriosis cells. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2008; 199:117.e1-6. [PMID: 18674655 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2008.01.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2007] [Revised: 10/24/2007] [Accepted: 01/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to screen a panel of targeted adenoviruses as vectors for endometriosis gene therapy. STUDY DESIGN Endometriotic cells were obtained from subjects with ovarian endometriomas. Liver tissues were taken from donors during hepatic transplantation surgery. Human endometriotic cells and liver tissues were transfected by targeted adenoviruses expressing luciferase reporter gene. Luciferase activity that was mediated by each virus was expressed as a percentage of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5-CMV-luc) activity. The 2-tailed Studentt test was used to compare the adenovirus data. RESULTS In endometriotic cells, the adenovirus-RGD (Ad-RGD-luc), adenovirus under secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor promoter (Ad-SLPI-luc), and adenovirus under heparanase promoter (Ad-heparanase-luc) showed significantly higher activity, compared with the adenovirus serotype 5. In liver tissues, adenovirus-survivin (Ad-survivin-luc) and Ad-heparanase-luc had significantly lower activity, compared with adenovirus serotype 5. CONCLUSION Ad-heparanase-luc showed "endometriosis on, liver off" phenotype and is a promising vector for endometriosis gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Essam-Eldin R Othman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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Zhang Y, Ma H, Zhang J, Liu S, Liu Y, Zheng D. AAV-mediated TRAIL gene expression driven by hTERT promoter suppressed human hepatocellular carcinoma growth in mice. Life Sci 2008; 82:1154-61. [PMID: 18485417 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2008.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2007] [Revised: 03/10/2008] [Accepted: 03/19/2008] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A major obstacle in the development of effective recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) mediated gene therapy is infection specificity and gene targeting. In the present study, we investigated whether the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) promoter could drive tumor-specific expression of the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), an apoptosis apoptosis-inducing protein with potential toxic effects on normal cells. Our data demonstrated that hTERT promoter-driven tumor-specific expression of TRAIL decreased the cellular viability of tumor cells, but not normal cells. TRAIL expression driven by hTERT promoter inhibited tumor growth significantly in vivo and combination of viral infection with 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) suppressed tumor growth more efficiently. Intra-venous injection of virus showed that the recombinant virus was predominantly distributed in the liver, but not in other major tissues tested, and no transgene expression was detected in the liver. Furthermore, serum enzyme and liver histology analysis confirmed that liver function is unaffected by TRAIL expression, significant as the liver is frequently metastasized and scattered with tumors from other organs, which are unpractical to treat by intra-tumor injection. Together our results demonstrate that rAAV-mediated TRAIL expression is a promising strategy in gene therapy for treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100005, China
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Horst MT, Brouwer E, Verwijnen S, Rodijk M, de Jong M, Hoeben R, de Leeuw B, Smitt PS. Targeting malignant gliomas with a glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-selective oncolytic adenovirus. J Gene Med 2008; 9:1071-9. [PMID: 17902184 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an intermediate filament protein abundantly expressed in malignant gliomas. We have constructed a novel oncolytic adenovirus, Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, for treatment of these tumors. In this construct, the E1 region is under control of the tissue-specific GFAP promoter (gfa2) with three additional copies of the glial specific 'B' enhancer. Infection of a GFAP-positive cell line with Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 resulted in E1A and E1B expression at 75% and 30% of the levels obtained after wtAd5 infection. Q-PCR showed that Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 replicated 4.5 times more efficiently in the GFAP-positive than in the GFAP-negative cell lines. Cell viability assays showed efficient elimination of GFAP-positive cells by Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, in some cell lines as efficiently as wtAd5, while the elimination was attenuated in GFAP-negative cell lines. When tested in human tumor xenografts in nude mice, Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 effectively suppressed the growth of GFAP-positive SNB-19 glial tumors but not of GFAP-negative A549 lung tumors. In Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1, the E3 region was deleted to create space for future insertion of heterologous therapeutic genes. Experiments with dl7001, an E3-deleted variant of wtAd5, confirmed that the specificity of Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 replication was based on the promoter driving E1 and not on the E3 deletion. Strategies to further improve the efficacy of Ad5-gfa2(B)3-E1 for the treatment of malignant gliomas include the insertion of therapeutic genes in E3 or retargeting to receptors that are more abundantly expressed on primary glioma cells than CAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maarten ter Horst
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Pennati M, Folini M, Zaffaroni N. Targeting survivin in cancer therapy. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2008; 12:463-76. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.12.4.463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 135] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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