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Thoidingjam S, Bhatnagar AR, Sriramulu S, Siddiqui F, Nyati S. Optimizing Pancreatic Cancer Therapy: The Promise of Immune Stimulatory Oncolytic Viruses. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9912. [PMID: 39337402 PMCID: PMC11432658 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25189912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer presents formidable challenges due to rapid progression and resistance to conventional treatments. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) selectively infect cancer cells and cause cancer cells to lyse, releasing molecules that can be identified by the host's immune system. Moreover, OV can carry immune-stimulatory payloads such as interleukin-12, which when delivered locally can enhance immune system-mediated tumor killing. OVs are very well tolerated by cancer patients due to their ability to selectively target tumors without affecting surrounding normal tissues. OVs have recently been combined with other therapies, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to improve clinical outcomes. Several OVs including adenovirus, herpes simplex viruses (HSVs), vaccinia virus, parvovirus, reovirus, and measles virus have been evaluated in preclinical and clinical settings for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. We evaluated the safety and tolerability of a replication-competent oncolytic adenoviral vector carrying two suicide genes (thymidine kinase, TK; and cytosine deaminase, CD) and human interleukin-12 (hIL12) in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients in a phase 1 trial. This vector was found to be safe and well-tolerated at the highest doses tested without causing any significant adverse events (SAEs). Moreover, long-term follow-up studies indicated an increase in the overall survival (OS) in subjects receiving the highest dose of the OV. Our encouraging long-term survival data provide hope for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, a disease that has not seen a meaningful increase in OS in the last five decades. In this review article, we highlight several preclinical and clinical studies and discuss future directions for optimizing OV therapy in pancreatic cancer. We envision OV-based gene therapy to be a game changer in the near future with the advent of newer generation OVs that have higher specificity and selectivity combined with personalized treatment plans developed under AI guidance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Farzan Siddiqui
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Shyam Nyati
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences, Detroit, MI 48202, USA
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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2
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Yoon AR, Hong J, Jung BK, Ahn HM, Zhang S, Yun CO. Oncolytic adenovirus as pancreatic cancer-targeted therapy: Where do we go from here? Cancer Lett 2023; 579:216456. [PMID: 37940067 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers with extremely high mortality rate, and the number of cases is expected to steadily increase with time. Pancreatic cancer is refractory to conventional cancer treatment options, like chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and commercialized immunotherapeutics, owing to its immunosuppressive and desmoplastic phenotype. Due to these reasons, development of an innovative treatment option that can overcome these challenges posed by the pancreatic tumor microenvironment (TME) is in an urgent need. The present review aims to summarize the evolution of oncolytic adenovirus (oAd) engineering and usage as therapeutics (either monotherapy or combination therapy) over the last decade to overcome these hurdles to instigate a potent antitumor effect against desmoplastic and immunosuppressive pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - JinWoo Hong
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo-Kyeong Jung
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyo Min Ahn
- GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Songnam Zhang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Yanbian University Hospital, Jilin, China
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Nisar M, Paracha RZ, Adil S, Qureshi SN, Janjua HA. An Extensive Review on Preclinical and Clinical Trials of Oncolytic Viruses Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer. Front Oncol 2022; 12:875188. [PMID: 35686109 PMCID: PMC9171400 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.875188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance and peculiar tumor microenvironment, which diminish or mitigate the effects of therapies, make pancreatic cancer one of the deadliest malignancies to manage and treat. Advanced immunotherapies are under consideration intending to ameliorate the overall patient survival rate in pancreatic cancer. Oncolytic viruses therapy is a new type of immunotherapy in which a virus after infecting and lysis the cancer cell induces/activates patients’ immune response by releasing tumor antigen in the blood. The current review covers the pathways and molecular ablation that take place in pancreatic cancer cells. It also unfolds the extensive preclinical and clinical trial studies of oncolytic viruses performed and/or undergoing to design an efficacious therapy against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryum Nisar
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Rehan Zafar Paracha
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sidra Adil
- School of Interdisciplinary Engineering & Sciences (SINES), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Hussnain Ahmed Janjua
- Atta-ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB), National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Sector H-12, Islamabad, Pakistan
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Noblejas-López MDM, Gandullo-Sánchez L, Galán-Moya EM, López-Rosa R, Tébar-García D, Nieto-Jiménez C, Gómez-Juárez M, Burgos M, Pandiella A, Ocaña A. Antitumoral Activity of a CDK9 PROTAC Compound in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5476. [PMID: 35628286 PMCID: PMC9146359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are a broad family of proteins involved in the cell cycle and transcriptional regulation. In this article, we explore the antitumoral activity of a novel proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) compound against CDK9. Breast cancer cell lines from different subtypes were used. Transcriptomic mapping of CDKs in breast cancer demonstrated that the expression of CDK9 predicted a detrimental outcome in basal-like tumors (HR = 1.51, CI = 1.08-2.11, p = 0.015) and, particularly, in the luminal B subtype with HER2+ expression (HR = 1.82, CI = 1.17-2.82, p = 0.0069). The novel CDK9 PROTAC, THAL-SNS-032, displayed a profound inhibitory activity in MCF7, T47D, and BT474 cells, with less effect in SKBR3, HCC1569, HCC1954, MDA-MB-231, HS578T, and BT549 cells. The three cell lines with HER2 overexpression and no presence of ER, SKBR3, HCC1569, and HCC1954 displayed an EC50 three times higher compared to ER-positive and dual ER/HER2-positive cell lines. BT474-derived trastuzumab-resistant cell lines displayed a particular sensitivity to THAL-SNS-032. Western blot analyses showed that THAL-SNS-032 caused a decrease in CDK9 levels in BT474, BT474-RH, and BT474-TDM1R cells, and a significant increase in apoptosis. Experiments in animals demonstrated an inverse therapeutic index of THAL-SNS-032, with doses in the nontherapeutic and toxic range. The identified toxicity was mainly due to an on-target off-tumor effect of the compound in the gastrointestinal epithelium. In summary, the potent and efficient antitumoral properties of the CDK9 PROTAC THAL-SNS-032 opens the possibility of using this type of compound in breast cancer only if specifically delivered to cancer cells, particularly in ER/HER2-positive and HER2-resistant tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- María del Mar Noblejas-López
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - Lucía Gandullo-Sánchez
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC, IBSAL and CIBERONC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.G.-S.); (A.P.)
| | - Eva M. Galán-Moya
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
- Faculty of Nursing, Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - Raquel López-Rosa
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - David Tébar-García
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
| | - Cristina Nieto-Jiménez
- Experimental Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mónica Gómez-Juárez
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
| | - Miguel Burgos
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
- Department of Nutrition, Food Science and Physiology, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Atanasio Pandiella
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC, IBSAL and CIBERONC, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (L.G.-S.); (A.P.)
| | - Alberto Ocaña
- Translational Research Unit, Albacete University Hospital, 02008 Albacete, Spain; (M.d.M.N.-L.); (E.M.G.-M.); (R.L.-R.); (D.T.-G.); (M.G.-J.); (M.B.)
- Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas (CRIB), Castilla-La Mancha University (UCLM), 02008 Albacete, Spain
- Experimental Therapeutics Unit, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Clínico San Carlos (HCSC), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria (IdISSC) and CIBERONC, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
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Luo W, Wang Y, Zhang T. Win or loss? Combination therapy does improve the oncolytic virus therapy to pancreatic cancer. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:160. [PMID: 35443724 PMCID: PMC9022249 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02583-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a growing global burden, remaining one of the most lethal cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. Moreover, PC is resistant to various treatments such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. New therapies are urgently needed to improve the prognosis of PC. Oncolytic virus (OV) therapy is a promising new treatment option. OV is a genetically modified virus that selectively replicates in tumor cells. It can kill tumor cells without harming normal cells. The activation of tumor-specific T-cells is a unique feature of OV-mediated therapy. However, OV-mediated mono-therapeutic efficacy remains controversial, especially for metastatic or advanced patients who require systemically deliverable therapies. Hence, combination therapies will be critical to improve the therapeutic efficacy of OV-mediated therapy and prevent tumor recurrence. This review aims to investigate novel combinatorial treatments with OV therapy and explore the inner mechanism of those combined therapies, hopefully providing a new direction for a better prognosis of PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhao Luo
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Yawen Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Key Laboratory of Endocrinology of National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China, The Translational Medicine Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH), PUMCH, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Taiping Zhang
- Department of General Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Shuaifuyuan, Wangfujing Street, Beijing, 100730, China. .,Clinical Immunology Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China.
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6
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Jiang R, Zhang Z, Liao X, Huang L, Liao Y, Deng W. Combination of oncolytic adenovirus ZD55 harboring TRAIL-IETD-MnSOD and cytokine-induced killer cells against lung cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:1527. [PMID: 34790733 PMCID: PMC8576688 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-4479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Background Our study aimed to investigate the effect of cancer-targeting gene-virotherapy and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cell immunotherapy on lung cancer. Methods CIK cells were obtained from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2, and CD3 monoclonal antibody. The CIK cells were infected with oncolytic adenovirus ZD55 harboring tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), manganese-containing superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and TRAIL-isoleucine-aspartate-threonine-glutamate (IETD)-MnSOD. The cells were then cocultured with lung cancer cell lines A549 and NCI-H1650, normal cell line BEAS-2B, or injected into an A549 xenograft mouse model. Results Proliferation, colony formation, and invasion of A549 and NCI-H1650 cells were significantly inhibited by co-cultivation with CIK cells carrying oncolytic adenoviruses (in order) ZD55-TRAIL-IETD-MnSOD > ZD55-TRAIL + ZD55-MnSOD > ZD55-MnSOD > ZD55-TRAIL. Compared to BEAS-2B cells, the production of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in tumor cells was increased. Tumor volume in the xenograft model and Ki-67 expression in tumor samples were reduced after injection of CIK cells carrying oncolytic adenoviruses, in the same order as the in vivo experiments. Levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, and LDH contents were also increased in the same order. Conclusions Our studies confirmed the high efficacy of combined oncolytic adenovirus ZD55 harboring TRAIL-IETD-MnSOD and CIK cells against lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runde Jiang
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhixiong Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xinghai Liao
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liangjuan Huang
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yilang Liao
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Weiyi Deng
- Department of Pathology, Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
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7
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He J, An Y, Qi J, Cui L, Yang K, Liu M, Qu B, Yan S, Yin J, Jing X, Dong H, Yu Q, Li D, Wu Y. The recombinant Newcastle disease virus Anhinga strain expressing human TRAIL exhibit antitumor effects on a glioma nude mice model. J Med Virol 2021; 93:3890-3898. [PMID: 32779745 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic virus therapy is perhaps the next major breakthrough in cancer treatment following the success in immunotherapy using immune checkpoint inhibitors. However, the potential oncolytic ability of the recombinant newcastle disease virus (NDV) Anhinga strain carried with tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) has not been fully explored at present. In the present study, the recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL that secretes soluble TRAIL was constructed and the experiment results suggested NDV/Anh-TRAIL as a promising candidate for glioma therapy. Growth kinetic and TRAIL secreted quantity of recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL virus were measured. Cytotoxic and cell apoptosis were analyzed for its anti-glioma therapy in vitro. Nude mice were used for the in vivo evaluation. Both tumor volume and mice behavior after injection were observed. The recombinant virus replicated with the same kinetics as the parental virus and the highest expression of TRAIL (77.8 ng/L) was found at 48 hours. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, a tetrazole and flow cytometry data revealed that the recombinant NDV/Anh-TRAIL (56.1 ± 8.2%) virus could induce a more severe apoptosis rate, when compared with the NDV wild type (37.2 ± 7.0%) and mock (7.0 ± 1.8%) groups (P < .01), in U251 cells. Furthermore, in the present animal study, the average tumor volume was smaller in the NDV/Anh-TRAIL group (97.21 mm3 ), when compared with the NDV wild type (205.03 mm3 , P < .05) and PBS (310.30 mm3 , P < .01) groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjiao He
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
- School of Life sciences & Basic Medicine, Xinxiang University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Ying An
- Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianying Qi
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Lin Cui
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Kai Yang
- Knowledge Management Center Nutrition & Health Research Institute, COFCO Corporation, Beijing, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Bo Qu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Shijun Yan
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Jiechao Yin
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Xiaohui Jing
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Hui Dong
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Qingzhong Yu
- Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia
| | - Deshan Li
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Yunzhou Wu
- College of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
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Hu PY, Fan XM, Zhang YN, Wang SB, Wan WJ, Pan HY, Mou XZ. The limiting factors of oncolytic virus immunotherapy and the approaches to overcome them. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:8231-8242. [PMID: 32816087 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10802-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic virus (OV) immunotherapy is characterized by viruses which specifically target cancer cells and cause their cytolysis. They provide a unique and promising new tool for the eradication of cancer as they interact with and affect the tumor microenvironment (TME), vasculature, and immune system. Advancements of genetic engineering have allowed for these viruses to be armed in such a way to have enhanced targeting, strong immunomodulation properties, and an ability to modify the TME. However, there are still major limitations in their use, mostly due to difficulties in delivering the viral particles to the tumors and in ensuring that the immunomodulatory properties are able to stimulate the host immune response to mount a complete response. Using novel delivery systems and using OVs as a complementary therapy in a combinatorial treatment have shown some significant successes. In this review, we discuss the major issues and difficulties in using OVs as anti-tumor agents and some of the strategies put in place so far to overcome these limitations. KEY POINTS: • Oncolytic viruses (OVs) infect cancer cells and cause their cytolysis. • The major limitations in using OVs as anti-tumor therapy were discussed. • The potential strategies to overcome these limitations were summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Yang Hu
- Department of Traumatology, Tiantai People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province (Tiantai Branch of Zhejiang People's Hospital), Taizhou, 317200, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Fan
- Department of Ultrasound, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - You-Ni Zhang
- Department of Traumatology, Tiantai People's Hospital of Zhejiang Province (Tiantai Branch of Zhejiang People's Hospital), Taizhou, 317200, China.,Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China.,Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Shi-Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China.,Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Wei-Jie Wan
- Shandong Xiandai University, Jinan, 250104, China
| | - Hong-Ying Pan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China.
| | - Xiao-Zhou Mou
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular Diagnosis and Individualized Medicine of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China. .,Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital (People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College), Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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9
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Gilchrist VH, Jémus-Gonzalez E, Said A, Alain T. Kinase inhibitors with viral oncolysis: Unmasking pharmacoviral approaches for cancer therapy. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2020; 56:83-93. [PMID: 32690442 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytogfr.2020.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
There are more than 500 kinases in the human genome, many of which are oncogenic once constitutively activated. Fortunately, numerous hyperactive kinases are druggable, and several targeted small molecule kinase inhibitors have demonstrated impressive clinical benefits in cancer treatment. However, their often cytostatic rather than cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, and the development of resistance mechanisms, remain significant limitations to these targeted therapies. Oncolytic viruses are an emerging class of immunotherapeutic agents with a specific oncotropic nature and excellent safety profile, highlighting them as a promising alternative to conventional therapeutic modalities. Nonetheless, the clinical efficacy of oncolytic virotherapy is challenged by immunological and physical barriers that limit viral delivery, replication, and spread within tumours. Several of these barriers are often associated with oncogenic kinase activity and, in some cases, worsened by the action of oncolytic viruses on kinase signaling during infection. What if inhibiting these kinases could potentiate the cancer-lytic and anti-tumour immune stimulating properties of oncolytic virotherapies? This could represent a paradigm shift in the use of specific kinase inhibitors in the clinic and provide a novel therapeutic approach to the treatment of cancers. A phase III clinical trial combining the oncolytic Vaccinia virus Pexa-Vec with the kinase inhibitor Sorafenib was initiated. While this trial failed to show any benefits over Sorafenib monotherapy in patients with advanced liver cancer, several pre-clinical studies demonstrate that targeting kinases combined with oncolytic viruses have synergistic effects highlighting this strategy as a unique avenue to cancer therapy. Herein, we review the combinations of oncolytic viruses with kinase inhibitors reported in the literature and discuss the clinical opportunities that represent these pharmacoviral approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Heather Gilchrist
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Apoptosis Research Center, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Estephanie Jémus-Gonzalez
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Apoptosis Research Center, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Aida Said
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Apoptosis Research Center, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Tommy Alain
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Apoptosis Research Center, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
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Gao H, Zhang X, Ding Y, Qiu R, Hong Y, Chen W. Synergistic Suppression Effect on Tumor Growth of Colorectal Cancer by Combining Radiotherapy With a TRAIL-Armed Oncolytic Adenovirus. Technol Cancer Res Treat 2019; 18:1533033819853290. [PMID: 31138083 PMCID: PMC6542122 DOI: 10.1177/1533033819853290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The combination of gene therapy and radiation is a promising new treatment for cancer. This study aimed to clarify the synergistic effect of targeted oncolytic adenovirus (radiotherapy-tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand) and radiotherapy on colorectal cancer cells and elucidate the mechanisms of the underlying antitumor activity. Viability, cell cycle status, and apoptosis of treated colorectal cancer cells were determined via MTT and flow cytometric assays. The molecular mechanism underlying apoptotic pathway activation was elucidated through Western blot analysis of caspase-8, caspase-3, and PARP proteins. Combination treatment with radiotherapy-tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand and radiotherapy displayed significantly greater antitumor activity than either of the monotherapies. The primary mechanism behind the antitumor activity in the SW480 and Lovo colorectal cancer cell lines was apoptosis induction through the caspase pathway and G1 phase arrest. In an SW480 xenograft model of colorectal cancer, the combination therapy achieved a significantly greater reduction in tumor volume than the monotherapies. Overall, in this study, we demonstrate that the oncolytic radiotherapy-tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand construct can sensitize human colorectal cancer cells to radiation-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our findings point toward a novel synergistic approach to colorectal cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangxiang Gao
- 1 Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- 2 Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ying Ding
- 3 Department of Intensive Care Unit, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital Xiasha Campus, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rong Qiu
- 4 Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Hangzhou Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yupeng Hong
- 5 Departments of Oncology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wanyuan Chen
- 2 Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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11
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Zhong HH, Wang HY, Li J, Huang YZ. TRAIL-based gene delivery and therapeutic strategies. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2019; 40:1373-1385. [PMID: 31444476 PMCID: PMC6889127 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-019-0287-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand), also known as APO2L, belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family. By binding to the death receptor 4 (DR4) or DR5, TRAIL induces apoptosis of tumor cells without causing side toxicity in normal tissues. In recent years TRAIL-based therapy has attracted great attention for its promise of serving as a cancer drug candidate. However, the treatment efficacy of TRAIL protein was under expectation in the clinical trials because of the short half-life and the resistance of cancer cells. TRAIL gene transfection can produce a "bystander effect" of tumor cell killing and provide a potential solution to TRAIL-based cancer therapy. In this review we focus on TRAIL gene therapy and various design strategies of TRAIL DNA delivery including non-viral vectors and cell-based TRAIL therapy. In order to sensitize the tumor cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, combination therapy of TRAIL DNA with other drugs by the codelivery methods for yielding a synergistic antitumor efficacy is summarized. The opportunities and challenges of TRAIL-based gene delivery and therapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Hai Zhong
- Shanghai University College of Sciences, Shanghai, 200444, China
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hui-Yuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jian Li
- Shanghai University College of Sciences, Shanghai, 200444, China
| | - Yong-Zhuo Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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12
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Overexpression of Smac by an Armed Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Overcomes Tumor Resistance. MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS 2019; 14:188-195. [PMID: 31312717 PMCID: PMC6610632 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite reports of successful clinical cases, many tumors appear to resist infection by oncolytic viruses (OVs). To circumvent this problem, an armed vesicular stomatitis virus was constructed by inserting a transgene to express Smac/DIABLO during virus infection (VSV-S). Endogenous Smac in HeLa cells was diminished during wtVSV infection, whereas the Smac level was enhanced during VSV-S infection. Apoptosis was readily induced by VSV-S, but not wtVSV, infection. More importantly, the tumor volume was reduced to a larger extent when xenografts of 4T1 cells in BALB/c mice and OV-resistant T-47D cells in nude mice were intratumorally injected with VSV-S. VSV-S represents a novel mechanism to overcome tumor resistance, resulting in more significant tumor regression due to enhanced apoptosis.
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13
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Kubczak M, Szustka A, Błoński JZ, Gucký T, Misiewicz M, Krystof V, Robak P, Rogalińska M. Dose and drug changes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cell response in vitro: A comparison of standard therapy regimens with two novel cyclin‑dependent kinase inhibitors. Mol Med Rep 2019; 19:3593-3603. [PMID: 30864706 PMCID: PMC6470834 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treatment is improving; however, some patients do not respond to therapy. Due to the high heterogeneity in disease development, there is an urgent need for personalization of therapy. In the present study, the response of leukemic mononuclear cells to anticancer drugs used for CLL treatment (cladribine + mafosfamide; CM or CM combined with rituximab; RCM) was compared with the response to new cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors: BP14 and BP30. Viable apoptotic and necrotic cells were quantified by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and Yo-Pro stains. CDK inhibitors were studied in several doses to determine the reduction of necrosis and simultaneous increase of apoptosis in leukemic cell incubations with anticancer agents. The distinct cell response to applied doses/anticancer agents was observed. Results obtained in the current manuscript confirmed that modulation of doses is important. This was particularly indicated in results obtained at 24 h of cells incubation with anticancer agent. While an important time for analysis of anticancer response efficacy (monitoring of apoptosis induction potential) seems to be 48 h of cells exposition to anticancer agents. High variability in response to the drugs revealed that both the nature and the dose of the anticancer agents could be important in the final effect of the therapy. The present findings support the thesis that personalized medicine, before drug administration in the clinic, could be important to avoid the application of ineffective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Kubczak
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90‑236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Szustka
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90‑236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Jerzy Z Błoński
- Department of Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, 93‑510 Lodz, Poland
| | - Tomaš Gucký
- Department of Chemical Biology and Genetics, Centre of the Region Haná for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Faculty of Science, Palacký University, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | | | - Vladmir Krystof
- Laboratory of Growth Regulators, Faculty of Science, Palacký University and Institute of Experimental Botany AS CR, 78371 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Paweł Robak
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Medical University of Lodz, 93‑510 Lodz, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Rogalińska
- Department of Cytobiochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 90‑236 Lodz, Poland
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14
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Chen W, Fan W, Ru G, Huang F, Lu X, Zhang X, Mou X, Wang S. Gemcitabine combined with an engineered oncolytic vaccinia virus exhibits a synergistic suppressive effect on the tumor growth of pancreatic cancer. Oncol Rep 2018; 41:67-76. [PMID: 30365143 PMCID: PMC6278373 DOI: 10.3892/or.2018.6817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal solid malignancy with resistance to traditional chemotherapy. Recently, considerable studies have demonstrated the ubiquitous antitumor properties of gene therapy mediated by the oncolytic vaccinia virus. The second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspase (Smac) has been identified as an innovative tumor suppressor that augments the chemosensitivity of cancer cells. However, the therapeutic value of oncolytic vaccinia virus (oVV)-mediated Smac gene transfer in pancreatic cancer is yet to be elucidated. In the present study, oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing Smac (second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspase) (oVV-Smac) was used to examine its beneficial value when used alone or with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer in vitro and in vivo. The expression of Smac was evaluated by western blot analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction, oVV-Smac cytotoxicity by MTT assay, and apoptosis by flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of oVV-Smac combined with gemcitabine was also evaluated. The results indicated that oVV-Smac achieved high levels of Smac, greater cytotoxicity, and potentiated apoptosis. Moreover, co-treatment with oVV-Smac and gemcitabine resulted in a synergistic effect in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, our findings advance oVV-Smac as a potential therapeutic candidate in pancreatic cancer and indicated the synergistic effects of co-treatment with oVV-Smac and gemcitabine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanyuan Chen
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Weimin Fan
- The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310053, P.R. China
| | - Guoqing Ru
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Xiaming Lu
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Xiaozhou Mou
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Shibing Wang
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
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