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Sotiriadis S, Beil J, Berchtold S, Smirnow I, Schenk A, Lauer UM. Multimodal Therapy Approaches for NUT Carcinoma by Dual Combination of Oncolytic Virus Talimogene Laherparepvec with Small Molecule Inhibitors. Viruses 2024; 16:775. [PMID: 38793657 DOI: 10.3390/v16050775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
NUT (nuclear-protein-in-testis) carcinoma (NC) is a highly aggressive tumor disease. Given that current treatment regimens offer a median survival of six months only, it is likely that this type of tumor requires an extended multimodal treatment approach to improve prognosis. In an earlier case report, we could show that an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (T-VEC) is functional in NC patients. To identify further combination partners for T-VEC, we have investigated the anti-tumoral effects of T-VEC and five different small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) alone and in combination in human NC cell lines. Dual combinations were found to result in higher rates of tumor cell reductions when compared to the respective monotherapy as demonstrated by viability assays and real-time tumor cell growth monitoring. Interestingly, we found that the combination of T-VEC with SMIs resulted in both stronger and earlier reductions in the expression of c-Myc, a main driver of NC cell proliferation, when compared to T-VEC monotherapy. These results indicate the great potential of combinatorial therapies using oncolytic viruses and SMIs to control the highly aggressive behavior of NC cancers and probably will pave the way for innovative multimodal clinical studies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stavros Sotiriadis
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, a Partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Schenk
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, a Partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Scheicher NV, Berchtold S, Beil J, Smirnow I, Schenk A, Lauer UM. In Vitro Sensitivity of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms to an Armed Oncolytic Measles Vaccine Virus. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:488. [PMID: 38339240 PMCID: PMC10854751 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16030488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine neoplasms represent a heterogenous group of rare tumors whose current therapeutic options show only limited efficacy. Oncolytic viruses exert their mode of action through (onco-)lysis of infected tumor cells and the induction of a systemic antitumoral immune response in a virus-induced inflammatory micromilieu. Here, we investigated the potential of our well-established second-generation suicide-gene armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus (MeV-SCD) in five human NEN cell lines. First, (i) expression of the MeV receptor CD46 and (ii) its correlation with primary infection rates were analyzed. Next, (iii) promising combination partners for MeV-SCD were tested by employing either the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine, which is converted into the chemotherapeutic compound 5-fluorouracil, or the mTOR-inhibitor everolimus. As a result, MeV-SCD was found to kill all NEN tumor cell lines efficiently in a dose-dependent manner. This oncolytic effect was further enhanced by exploiting the prodrug-converting system, which was found to be highly instrumental in overcoming the partial resistance found in a single NEN cell line. Furthermore, viral replication was unaffected by everolimus, which is a basic requirement for combined use in NEN patients. These data suggest that MeV-SCD has profound potential for patients with NEN, thus paving the way for early clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai V. Scheicher
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hematology and Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, a Partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
| | - Andrea Schenk
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
| | - Ulrich M. Lauer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (N.V.S.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tübingen, a Partnership between DKFZ and University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Yurttas C, Beil J, Berchtold S, Smirnow I, Kloker LD, Sipos B, Löffler MW, Königsrainer A, Mihaljevic AL, Lauer UM, Thiel K. Efficacy of Different Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Strains for the Treatment of Murine Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:368. [PMID: 38254857 PMCID: PMC10814383 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16020368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective treatment options for peritoneal surface malignancies (PSMs) are scarce. Oncolytic virotherapy with recombinant vaccinia viruses might constitute a novel treatment option for PSM. We aimed to identify the most effective oncolytic vaccinia virus strain in two murine mesothelioma cell lines and the oncolytic potential in a murine model of peritoneal mesothelioma. Cell lines AB12 and AC29 were infected in vitro with vaccinia virus strains Lister (GLV-1h254), Western Reserve (GLV-0b347), and Copenhagen (GLV-4h463). The virus strain GLV-0b347 was shown most effective in vitro and was further investigated by intraperitoneal (i.p.) application to AB12 and AC29 mesothelioma-bearing mice. Feasibility, safety, and effectiveness of virotherapy were assessed by evaluating the peritoneal cancer index (PCI), virus detection in tumor tissues and ascites, virus growth curves, and comparison of overall survival. After i.p. injection of GLV-0b347, virus was detected in both tumor cells and ascites. In comparison to mock-treated mice, overall survival was significantly prolonged, ascites was less frequent and PCI values declined. However, effective treatment was only observed in animals with limited tumor burden at the time point of virus application. Nonetheless, intraperitoneal virotherapy with GLV-0b347 might constitute a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma. Additional treatment modifications and combinational regimes will be investigated to further enhance treatment efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Yurttas
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany (A.K.)
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Linus D. Kloker
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Bence Sipos
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- BAG für Pathologie und Molekularpathologie, Rosenbergstraße 12, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Markus W. Löffler
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany (A.K.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC2180) “Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies”, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Interfaculty Institute for Cell Biology, Department of Immunology, University of Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 15, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Tübingen, Auf der Morgenstelle 8, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Alfred Königsrainer
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany (A.K.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - André L. Mihaljevic
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany (A.K.)
| | - Ulrich M. Lauer
- Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital of Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany;
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner Site Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Karolin Thiel
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplant Surgery, University Hospital of Tübingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str. 3, 72076 Tübingen, Germany (A.K.)
- Department of General, Visceral, and Thoracic Surgery, Oberschwaben Hospital Group, St Elisabethen-Klinikum, Elisabethenstr. 15, 88212 Ravensburg, Germany
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Ohnesorge PV, Berchtold S, Beil J, Haas SA, Smirnow I, Schenk A, French CA, Luong NM, Huang Y, Fehrenbacher B, Schaller M, Lauer UM. Efficacy of Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus T-VEC Combined with BET Inhibitors as an Innovative Therapy Approach for NUT Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14112761. [PMID: 35681742 PMCID: PMC9179288 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14112761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Since T-VEC is already approved for treatment of melanoma, its promising efficacy shown here also for NUT carcinoma (NC) cell lines may create a rapid transition to individual treatments as well as clinical trials in NC patients. The idea of combining T-VEC immunotherapy with BET inhibitors is strengthened by the assumption that the initial rapid response of NC to BET inhibitor therapy and the additional direct tumor cell lysis triggered by virotherapeutics may be able to effectively stabilize or even shrink the tumor cell mass to bridge the time gap until the durable immune response, induced by immunovirotherapy, can lead to complete tumor remission. This would signify a real breakthrough for patients suffering from this extremely aggressive tumor, whose average survival time is currently in the range of only six months. Abstract NUT carcinoma (NC) is an extremely aggressive tumor and current treatment regimens offer patients a median survival of six months only. This article reports on the first in vitro studies using immunovirotherapy as a promising therapy option for NC and its feasible combination with BET inhibitors (iBET). Using NC cell lines harboring the BRD4-NUT fusion protein, the cytotoxicity of oncolytic virus talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and the iBET compounds BI894999 and GSK525762 were assessed in vitro in monotherapeutic and combinatorial approaches. Viral replication, marker gene expression, cell proliferation, and IFN-β dependence of T-VEC efficiency were monitored. T-VEC efficiently infected and replicated in NC cell lines and showed strong cytotoxic effects. This implication could be enhanced by iBET treatment following viral infection. Viral replication was not impaired by iBET treatment. In addition, it was shown that pretreatment of NC cells with IFN-β does impede the replication as well as the cytotoxicity of T-VEC. T-VEC was found to show great potential for patients suffering from NC. Of note, when applied in combination with iBETs, a reinforcing influence was observed, leading to an even stronger anti-tumor effect. These findings suggest combining virotherapy with diverse molecular therapeutics for the treatment of NC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul V. Ohnesorge
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Simone A. Haas
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrea Schenk
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
| | - Christopher A. French
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.A.F.); (N.M.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Nhi M. Luong
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.A.F.); (N.M.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yeying Huang
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (C.A.F.); (N.M.L.); (Y.H.)
| | - Birgit Fehrenbacher
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (B.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Martin Schaller
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (B.F.); (M.S.)
| | - Ulrich M. Lauer
- Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, Virotherapy Center Tübingen (VCT), Medical University Hospital, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; (P.V.O.); (S.B.); (J.B.); (S.A.H.); (I.S.); (A.S.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-(0)7071-29-83190
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Kloker LD, Berchtold S, Smirnow I, Beil J, Krieg A, Sipos B, Lauer UM. Oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 exhibits profound antitumoral activities in cell lines originating from neuroendocrine neoplasms. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:628. [PMID: 32631270 PMCID: PMC7339398 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07121-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Oncolytic virotherapy is an upcoming treatment option for many tumor entities. But so far, a first oncolytic virus only was approved for advanced stages of malignant melanomas. Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) constitute a heterogenous group of tumors arising from the neuroendocrine system at diverse anatomic sites. Due to often slow growth rates and (in most cases) endocrine non-functionality, NETs are often detected only in a progressed metastatic situation, where therapy options are still severely limited. So far, immunotherapies and especially immunovirotherapies are not established as novel treatment modalities for NETs. Methods In this immunovirotherapy study, pancreatic NET (BON-1, QGP-1), lung NET (H727, UMC-11), as well as neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) cell lines (HROC-57, NEC-DUE1) were employed. The well characterized genetically engineered vaccinia virus GLV-1 h68, which has already been investigated in various clinical trials, was chosen as virotherapeutical treatment modality. Results Profound oncolytic efficiencies were found for NET/NEC tumor cells. Besides, NET/NEC tumor cell bound expression of GLV-1 h68-encoded marker genes was observed also. Furthermore, a highly efficient production of viral progenies was detected by sequential virus quantifications. Moreover, the mTOR inhibitor everolimus, licensed for treatment of metastatic NETs, was not found to interfere with GLV-1 h68 replication, making a combinatorial treatment of both feasible. Conclusions In summary, the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1 h68 was found to exhibit promising antitumoral activities, replication capacities and a potential for future combinatorial approaches in cell lines originating from neuroendocrine neoplasms. Based on these preliminary findings, virotherapeutic effects now have to be further evaluated in animal models for treatment of Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus D Kloker
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Krieg
- Department of Surgery (A), Heinrich-Heine-University and University Hospital Duesseldorf, 40225, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Bence Sipos
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, Department of Medical Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Tuebingen, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
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Klose C, Berchtold S, Schmidt M, Beil J, Smirnow I, Venturelli S, Burkard M, Handgretinger R, Lauer UM. Biological treatment of pediatric sarcomas by combined virotherapy and NK cell therapy. BMC Cancer 2019; 19:1172. [PMID: 31795974 PMCID: PMC6889644 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-019-6387-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In pediatric sarcomas, outcomes of established therapies still remain poor, especially due to high-grade resistances to chemotherapeutic compounds. Taking novel biological approaches into account, virotherapy was found to be efficient in many pediatric sarcoma types. Also NK cell therapy was denoted to represent a promising upcoming strategy for pediatric sarcoma patients. We here investigated a combinatorial approach employing oncolytic measles vaccine virotherapeutics (MeV) together with activated human NK cells (or PBMCs). METHODS The human sarcoma cell lines A673 and HT1080 were used to evaluate the efficacy of this combinatorial treatment modality. Oncolysis was determined by measuring real-time cell proliferation using the xCELLigence RTCA SP system. Furthermore, expression of receptors on NK cells and the respective ligands on A673 cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. To measure the protein release of activated NK cells a LEGENDplex™ assay was performed. RESULTS Monotherapy with MeV led to a time- and dose-dependent oncolytic reduction of A673 and HT1080 sarcoma tumor cell masses. Concurrently, such MeV infections did not change the expression of NK cell ligands MICA/B, ULBP1, 2, and 3, CD112, and CD155. As shown by real-time proliferation assays, infections of A673 and HT1080 sarcoma cells with MeV followed by co-culture with activated NK cells or PBMCs led to enhanced sarcoma cell destruction when compared to the respective monotherapies. In parallel, this dual therapy resulted in an increased release of granzymes, perforin, and granulysin from NK cells. In contrast, expression of activation and ontogenesis receptors on NK cells was not found to be altered after co-culture with MeV-infected A673 sarcoma cells. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the combined treatment strategy comprising oncolytic MeV and activated NK cells resulted in enhanced oncolysis of A673 and HT1080 cells when compared to the respective monotherapies. In parallel, we observed an increased release of NK cell activation markers upon co-culture with MeV-infected A673 human sarcoma cells. These results support the onset of clinical trials combining oncolytic virotherapy with NK cell based immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chihab Klose
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marina Schmidt
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sascha Venturelli
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Vegetative and Clinical Physiology, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 27, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Markus Burkard
- Institute of Physiology, Department of Vegetative and Clinical Physiology, University of Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 27, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Rupert Handgretinger
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Children's Hospital Tuebingen, Hoppe-Seyler-Str.1, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ partner site Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, D-72076, Tuebingen, Germany.
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Maurer S, Salih HR, Smirnow I, Lauer UM, Berchtold S. Suicide gene‑armed measles vaccine virus for the treatment of AML. Int J Oncol 2019; 55:347-358. [PMID: 31268165 PMCID: PMC6615925 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Virotherapy comprises a novel therapeutic approach to selectively eliminate cancer cells. Preclinical, as well as clinical data have demonstrated the efficacy of tumor‑selective (oncolytic) viruses in hematological malignancies. In this study, we infected AML cell lines and primary AML cells from patients with measles vaccine virus either expressing GFP or armed with super cytosine deaminase, which converts the prodrug, 5‑fluorocytosine, into the chemotherapeutic compound, 5‑fluorouracil. Target cell density of the measles entry receptor, CD46, infection rates of targeted leukemic cells, tumor cell viability, and apoptotic rates were determined. We found that measles vaccine virus infected the leukemic blasts and profoundly diminished the number and viability of leukemic cells via the induction of apoptosis. The conversion of 5‑fluorocytosine to 5‑fluorouracil exerted a potent additive tumoricidal effect. This was also observed in cases when leukemic cells displayed only moderate susceptibility to the oncolytic virus and hence direct oncolysis. Taken together, in this study, we provide a first characterization of the combinatorial use of measles vaccine virus and 5‑fluorouracil for treatment of AML. Our approach to site‑specifically produce the active drug and combine this agent with the direct lytic effect of virotherapy may overcome present limitations and constitutes a feasible method with which to introduce 5‑fluorouracil in the treatment of AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Maurer
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner site Tuebingen, D‑72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Helmut R Salih
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Partner site Tuebingen, D‑72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, D‑72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, D‑72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, D‑72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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8
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Kloker LD, Berchtold S, Smirnow I, Schaller M, Fehrenbacher B, Krieg A, Sipos B, Lauer UM. The Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Talimogene Laherparepvec Shows Promising Efficacy in Neuroendocrine Cancer Cell Lines. Neuroendocrinology 2019; 109:346-361. [PMID: 31280274 DOI: 10.1159/000500159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Metastatic neuroendocrine cancer still constitutes a palliative situation, lacking promising treatment options. Oncolytic virotherapy, a novel type of virus-based immunotherapy, lyses tumor cells using genetically engineered viruses thereby activating the immune system to induce an optimized antitumor response which could bring down tumor masses to a stage of minimal residual tumor disease. The oncolytic vector talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, herpes simplex virus [HSV] type 1) has already shown excellent safety profiles in clinical studies and has become the first ever FDA/EMA-approved oncolytic virus (OV). This work presents a first preclinical assessment of this state-of-the-art OV, using a panel of human neuroendocrine tumor/neuroendocrine carcinoma (NET/NEC) cell lines. Cytotoxicity, transgene expression, and viral replication patterns were studied. Furthermore, the antiproliferative activity was compared to the one of mTOR inhibitor Everolimus and also interactions between the OV and Everolimus were evaluated. Moreover, virostatic effects of ganciclovir (GCV) on replication of T-VEC were assessed and electron microscopic pictures were taken to comprehend viral envelopment and details of the replication cycle of T-VEC in human neuroendocrine cancer. It could be shown that T-VEC infects, replicates in, and lyses human NET/NEC cells exhibiting high oncolytic efficiencies already at quite low virus concentrations. Interestingly, Everolimus was not found to have any relevant impact on rates of viral replication, but no additive effects could be proved using a combinatorial therapy regimen. On the other hand, GCV was shown to be able to limit replication of T-VEC, thus establishing an important safety feature for future treatments of NET/NEC patients. Taken together, T-VEC opens up a promising novel treatment option for NET/NEC patients, warranting its further preclinical and clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linus D Kloker
- Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Martin Schaller
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Birgit Fehrenbacher
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andreas Krieg
- Department of Surgery (A), Heinrich-Heine-University and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bence Sipos
- Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Clinical Tumor Biology, University Hospital, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany,
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Tübingen, Germany,
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9
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Binz E, Berchtold S, Beil J, Schell M, Geisler C, Smirnow I, Lauer UM. Chemovirotherapy of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma by Combining Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus GLV-1h68 with nab-Paclitaxel Plus Gemcitabine. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2017; 6:10-21. [PMID: 28607950 PMCID: PMC5458765 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Oncolytic viruses have proven their therapeutic potential against a variety of different tumor entities both in vitro and in vivo. Their ability to selectively infect and lyse tumor cells, while sparing healthy tissues, makes them favorable agents for tumor-specific treatment approaches. Particularly, the addition of virotherapeutics to already established chemotherapy protocols (so-called chemovirotherapy) is of major interest. Here we investigated the in vitro cytotoxic effect of the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 combined with dual chemotherapy with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine in four human pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines (AsPc-1, BxPc-3, MIA-PaCa-2, and Panc-1). This chemovirotherapeutic protocol resulted in enhanced tumor cell killing in two tumor cell lines compared to the respective monotherapies. We were thereby able to show that the combination of oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine has great potential in the chemovirotherapeutic treatment of advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. However, the key to a successful combinatorial chemovirotherapeutic treatment seems to be a profound viral replication, as tumor cell lines that were non-responsive to the combination therapy exhibited a reduced viral replication in the presence of the chemotherapeutics. This finding is of special significance when aiming to achieve a virus-mediated induction of a profound and long-lasting antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eike Binz
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ Partner Site, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Julia Beil
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ Partner Site, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Martina Schell
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Christine Geisler
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ Partner Site, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine VIII, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Strasse 10, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), DKFZ Partner Site, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany
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10
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Ellerhoff TP, Berchtold S, Venturelli S, Burkard M, Smirnow I, Wulff T, Lauer UM. Novel epi-virotherapeutic treatment of pancreatic cancer combining the oral histone deacetylase inhibitor resminostat with oncolytic measles vaccine virus. Int J Oncol 2016; 49:1931-1944. [DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2016.3675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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11
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Ruf B, Berchtold S, Venturelli S, Burkard M, Smirnow I, Prenzel T, Henning SW, Lauer UM. Combination of the oral histone deacetylase inhibitor resminostat with oncolytic measles vaccine virus as a new option for epi-virotherapeutic treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2015; 2:15019. [PMID: 27119111 PMCID: PMC4782956 DOI: 10.1038/mto.2015.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 08/15/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic therapies such as histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) not only have the capability to decrease tumor cell proliferation and to induce tumor cell death but also to silence antiviral response genes. Here, we investigated whether the combination of an oncolytic measles vaccine virus (MeV) with the novel oral HDACi resminostat (Res), being in clinical testing in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), results in an enhanced efficacy of this epi-virotherapeutic approach compared to any of the two corresponding monotherapies. When testing a panel of human hepatoma cell lines, we found (i) a significantly improved rate of primary infections when using oncolytic MeV under concurrent treatment with resminostat, (ii) a boosted cytotoxic effect of the epi-virotherapeutic combination (Res + MeV) with enhanced induction of apoptosis, and, quite importantly, (iii) an absence of any resminostat-induced impairment of MeV replication and spread. Beyond that, we could also show that (iv) resminostat, after hepatoma cell stimulation with exogenous human interferon (IFN)-β, is able to prevent the induction of IFN-stimulated genes, such as IFIT-1. This finding outlines the possible impact of resminostat on cellular innate immunity, being instrumental in overcoming resistances to MeV-mediated viral oncolysis. Thus, our results support the onset of epi-virotherapeutic clinical trials in patients exhibiting advanced stages of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Ruf
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Susanne Berchtold
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Sascha Venturelli
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Markus Burkard
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Ulrich M Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Tuebingen , Tuebingen, Germany
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12
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Zimmermann M, Armeanu-Ebinger S, Bossow S, Lampe J, Smirnow I, Schenk A, Lange S, Weiss TS, Neubert W, Lauer UM, Bitzer M. Attenuated and protease-profile modified sendai virus vectors as a new tool for virotherapy of solid tumors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90508. [PMID: 24598703 PMCID: PMC3944018 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple types of oncolytic viruses are currently under investigation in clinical trials. To optimize therapeutic outcomes it is believed that the plethora of different tumor types will require a diversity of different virus types. Sendai virus (SeV), a murine parainfluenza virus, displays a broad host range, enters cells within minutes and already has been applied safely as a gene transfer vector in gene therapy patients. However, SeV spreading naturally is abrogated in human cells due to a lack of virus activating proteases. To enable oncolytic applications of SeV we here engineered a set of novel recombinant vectors by a two-step approach: (i) introduction of an ubiquitously recognized cleavage-motive into SeV fusion protein now enabling continuous spreading in human tissues, and (ii) profound attenuation of these rSeV by the knockout of viral immune modulating accessory proteins. When employing human hepatoma cell lines, newly generated SeV variants now reached high titers and induced a profound tumor cell lysis. In contrast, virus release from untransformed human fibroblasts or primary human hepatocytes was found to be reduced by about three log steps in a time course experiment which enables the cumulation of kinetic differences of the distinct phases of viral replication such as primary target cell infection, target cell replication, and progeny virus particle release. In a hepatoma xenograft animal model we found a tumor-specific spreading of our novel recombinant SeV vectors without evidence of biodistribution into non-malignant tissues. In conclusion, we successfully developed novel tumor-selective oncolytic rSeV vectors, constituting a new tool for virotherapy of solid tumors being ready for further preclinical and clinical development to address distinct tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Zimmermann
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Sascha Bossow
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Johanna Lampe
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland FIMM, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Irina Smirnow
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Andrea Schenk
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lange
- Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität, München, Germany
| | - Thomas S. Weiss
- Center for Liver Cell Research, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Regensburg Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Neubert
- Max-Planck-Institute for Biochemistry, Department Molecular Virology, Martinsried Germany
| | - Ulrich M. Lauer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Bitzer
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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13
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Hartkopf AD, Lampe J, Berchtold S, Smirnow I, Zimmermann M, Bossow S, Neubert W, Wallwiener D, Fehm T, Lauer UM. Suizidgentragende Masernimpfviren zur Behandlung des Ovarialkarzinoms. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2011. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1286461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
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14
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Zimmermann M, Lampe J, Lange S, Smirnow I, Königsrainer A, Hann-von-Weyhern C, Fend F, Gregor M, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. Improved reproducibility in preparing precision-cut liver tissue slices. Cytotechnology 2009; 61:145-52. [PMID: 20091220 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-009-9246-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2009] [Accepted: 12/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Precision-cut liver tissue slices (PCLS) have been used for decades to study pharmacological metabolism as well as toxicology and efficacy of novel substances on primary material under standardized conditions. Slicing of primary liver tissue has been done using different slicing machines. Since there has been great variability in the results, we sought to compare the reproducibility of tissue slices generated using the newly developed Leica VT1200 S vibrating blade microtome with Vibrocheck (LV) and the Krumdieck tissue slicer (KD) which has been the standard apparatus for this application so far. Liver samples from five different species (human, pig, cattle, rat, mouse) were cut and the reproducibility of slice thickness was analyzed by cross sectioning the PCLS. The quality of the sliced tissue was determined via measurement of the ATP content. As a result, we found an improved accuracy and reproducibility of rat, mouse and human tissue slices using the new Leica vibrating blade microtome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Zimmermann
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Otfried-Mueller-Str. 10, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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15
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Zimmermann M, Armeanu S, Smirnow I, Kupka S, Wagner S, Wehrmann M, Rots MG, Groothuis GMM, Weiss TS, Königsrainer A, Gregor M, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. Human precision-cut liver tumor slices as a tumor patient-individual predictive test system for oncolytic measles vaccine viruses. Int J Oncol 2009; 34:1247-1256. [PMID: 19360338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Availability of an individualized preselection of oncolytic viruses to be used for virotherapy of tumor patients would be of great help. Using primary liver tumor resection specimens we evaluated the precision-cut liver slice (PCLS) technology as a novel in vitro test system for characterization of paramount tumor infection parameters of individual patients. PCLS slices from resection specimens of 20 liver tumor patients were cultivated in vitro for up to 5 days and infected with 5 different oncolytic measles vaccine virus (MeV) strains. Effectiveness of tumor infection was monitored by viral nucleocapsid (N) protein detection in immunofluorescence staining or Western blot analysis or by detection of GFP marker gene expression. MeV spreading in PCLS cultures was visualized by confocal microscopy. Oncolytic MeV vaccine particles were demonstrated to efficiently infect PCLS slices originating from different primary and secondary tumors of the liver with MeV strains Moraten/Edmonston Zagreb and AIK-C showing highest infection rates (75% of all tested tumor specimens). Employing mixed liver tissue slices (exhibiting both tumorous and non-tumorous tissue areas on one and the same sample) a distinct tumor area favouring pattern of MeV infections was observed being in accordance with our finding that primary human hepatocytes are also permissive to MeV particles, albeit at a much lower rate and with a much less pronounced cytopathic effect. Furthermore, confocal microscopy demonstrated virus penetration throughout tumor tissues into deep cell layers. In conclusion, the PCLS technology is suitable to perform a tumor-patient individualized preselection of oncolytic agents prior to clinical virotherapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Zimmermann
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Armeanu S, Krusch M, Baltz KM, Weiss TS, Smirnow I, Steinle A, Lauer UM, Bitzer M, Salih HR. Direct and natural killer cell-mediated antitumor effects of low-dose bortezomib in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clin Cancer Res 2008; 14:3520-8. [PMID: 18519785 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-07-4744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) displays particular resistance to conventional cytostatic agents. Alternative treatment strategies focus on novel substances exhibiting antineoplastic and/or immunomodulatory activity enhancing for example natural killer (NK) cell antitumor reactivity. However, tumor-associated ligands engaging activating NK cell receptors are largely unknown. Exceptions are NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL) of the MHC class I-related chain and UL16-binding protein families, which potently stimulate NK cell responses. We studied the consequences of proteasome inhibition with regard to direct and NK cell-mediated effects against HCC. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) from different donors, hepatoma cell lines, and NK cells were exposed to Bortezomib. Growth and viability of the different cells, and immunomodulatory effects including alterations of NKG2DL expression on hepatoma cells, specific induction of NK cell cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production were investigated. RESULTS Bortezomib treatment inhibited hepatoma cell growth with IC(50) values between 2.4 and 7.7 nmol/L. These low doses increased MICA/B mRNA levels, resulting in an increase of total and cell surface protein expression in hepatoma cells, thus stimulating cytotoxicity and IFN-gamma production of cocultured NK cells. Importantly, although NK cell IFN-gamma production was concentration-dependently reduced, low-dose Bortezomib neither induced NKG2DL expression or cell death in PHH nor altered NK cell cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS Low-dose Bortezomib mediates a specific dual antitumor effect in HCC by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation and priming hepatoma cells for NK cell antitumor reactivity. Our data suggest that patients with HCC may benefit from Bortezomib treatment combined with immunotherapeutic approaches such as adoptive NK cell transfer taking advantage of enhanced NKG2D-mediated antitumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorin Armeanu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical University Hospital, Tübingen, Germany
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Lemken ML, Wolf C, Wybranietz WA, Schmidt U, Smirnow I, Bühring HJ, Mack AF, Lauer UM, Bitzer M. Evidence for intercellular trafficking of VP22 in living cells. Mol Ther 2007; 15:310-9. [PMID: 17235309 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The intercellular trafficking property of the herpes simplex virus type 1 tegument protein VP22 makes it a promising tool for overcoming low transduction efficiencies in gene therapy. However, recent reports suggest not only that VP22 cannot facilitate intercellular spreading and that trafficking of VP22 fusion proteins results from artifacts of cell fixation only. To provide direct evidence for the presence or absence of VP22-mediated intercellular trafficking, we generated an adenoviral vector with a dual expression cassette for VP22 fused to green fluorescent protein (VP22 GFP) and DsRed under the control of distinct human cytomegalovirus immediate-early enhancer/promoter regions. Using this vector, we were able to distinguish clearly between primary transduced cells and cells taking up VP22GFP by intercellular trafficking. To our knowledge, for the first time, we could demonstrate by live-cell confocal fluorescence microscopy that VP22GFP can be found intracellularly in unfixed recipient cells. The extent of VP22 spread was similar in paraformaldehyde-fixed cells and unfixed cells as demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. We thus confirmed the ability of VP22-mediated intercellular trafficking in live unfixed cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Luise Lemken
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Lemken ML, Graepler F, Wolf C, Wybranietz W, Smirnow I, Schmidt U, Gregor M, Bitzer M, Lauer U. Fusion of HSV-1 VP22 to a bifunctional chimeric SuperCD suicide gene compensates for low suicide gene transduction efficiencies. Int J Oncol 2007. [DOI: 10.3892/ijo.30.5.1153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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19
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Lemken ML, Graepler F, Wolf C, Wybranietz WA, Smirnow I, Schmidt U, Gregor M, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. Fusion of HSV-1 VP22 to a bifunctional chimeric SuperCD suicide gene compensates for low suicide gene transduction efficiencies. Int J Oncol 2007; 30:1153-61. [PMID: 17390017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Low transduction efficiencies of viral and non-viral vectors still remain a major limitation in suicide gene therapy. The HSV-1 tegument protein VP22 can spread from cells where it is produced to surrounding recipient cells, thus making it a promising tool for compensation of inadequate gene transfer efficiencies. In our previous study, we focused on the optimization of the cytosine deaminase (CD) suicide gene system for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. The fusion of yeast cytosine deaminase (YCD) to yeast uracil-phosphoribosyltransferase designated SuperCD was shown to be catalytically superior to the YCD gene in our previous study. The aim of our study was to investigate whether fusion of the bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene to VP22 could further potentiate suicide gene therapy efficiency. C- and N-terminal fusions of SuperCD linked in-frame with VP22 were created and cloned into recombinant adenoviral vectors. Under incubation with the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) a strong enhancement in suicide gene induced target cell cytotoxicity was observed whereby the C-terminal fusion of VP22 to SuperCD (VP22-SuperCD) caused the most tremendous decrease in IC50 compared to both Ad-SuperCD transduced and uninfected hepatoma control cells. Optimization of the bystander effect mediated by the intercellular transport of VP22-fusion proteins was demonstrated by cytotoxicity assays performed with a mixture of adenoviral transduced cells and naïve uninfected cells. Immunofluorescence analysis of adenoviral transduced COS-1 cells coplated with naïve HeLa cells further confirmed the unique property of VP22 for intercellular trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Luise Lemken
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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20
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Graepler F, Lemken ML, Wybranietz WA, Schmidt U, Smirnow I, Gross CD, Spiegel M, Schenk A, Graf H, Lauer UA, Vonthein R, Gregor M, Armeanu S, Bitzer M, Lauer UM. Bifunctional chimeric SuperCD suicide gene -YCD: YUPRT fusion is highly effective in a rat hepatoma model. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 11:6910-9. [PMID: 16437592 PMCID: PMC4717030 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i44.6910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM To investigate the effects of catalytically superior gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy systems on a rat hepatoma model. METHODS To increase hepatoma cell chemosensitivity for the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), we generated a chimeric bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene, a fusion of the yeast cytosine deaminase (YCD) and the yeast uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (YUPRT) gene. RESULTS In vitro stably transduced Morris rat hepatoma cells (MH) expressing the bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene (MH SuperCD) showed a clearly marked enhancement in cell killing when incubated with 5-FC as compared with MH cells stably expressing YCD solely (MH YCD) or the cytosine deaminase gene of bacterial origin (MH BCD), respectively. In vivo, MH SuperCD tumors implanted both subcutaneously as well as orthotopically into the livers of syngeneic ACI rats demonstrated significant tumor regressions (P<0.01) under both high dose as well as low dose systemic 5-FC application, whereas MH tumors without transgene expression (MH naive) showed rapid progression. For the first time, an order of in vivo suicide gene effectiveness (SuperCD>> YCD>>BCD>>>negative control) was defined as a result of a direct in vivo comparison of all three suicide genes. CONCLUSION Bifunctional SuperCD suicide gene expression is highly effective in a rat hepatoma model, thereby significantly improving both the therapeutic index and the efficacy of hepatocellular carcinoma killing by fluorocytosine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Graepler
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University Clinic Tübingen, Germany.
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Armeanu S, Bitzer M, Smirnow I, Bossow S, Appel S, Ungerechts G, Bernloehr C, Neubert WJ, Lauer UM, Brossart P. Severe Impairment of Dendritic Cell Allostimulatory Activity by Sendai Virus Vectors Is Overcome by Matrix Protein Gene Deletion. J Immunol 2005; 175:4971-80. [PMID: 16210599 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.175.8.4971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Delivery of Ags to dendritic cells (DCs) plays a pivotal role in the induction of efficient immune responses ranging from immunity to tolerance. The observation that certain viral pathogens are able to infect DCs has led to a concept in which applications of recombinant viruses are used for Ag delivery with the potential benefit of inducing potent Ag-specific T cell responses directed against multiple epitopes. As a prerequisite for such an application, the infection of DCs by recombinant viruses should not interfere with their stimulatory capacity. In this context, we could show that an emerging negative-strand RNA viral vector system based on the Sendai virus (SeV) is able to efficiently infect monocyte-derived human DCs (moDCs). However, after infection with SeV wild type, both the response of DCs to bacterial LPS as a powerful mediator of DC maturation and the allostimulatory activity were severely impaired. Interestingly, using various recombinant SeV vectors that were devoid of single viral genes, we were able to identify the SeV matrix (M) protein as a key component in moDC functional impairment after viral infection. Consequently, use of M-deficient SeV vectors preserved the allostimulatory activity in infected moDCs despite an efficient expression of all other virally encoded genes, thereby identifying M-deficient vectors as a highly potent tool for the genetic manipulation of DCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorin Armeanu
- Department of Internal Medicine I, University Clinic Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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Armeanu S, Bitzer M, Lauer UM, Venturelli S, Pathil A, Krusch M, Kaiser S, Jobst J, Smirnow I, Wagner A, Steinle A, Salih HR. Natural killer cell-mediated lysis of hepatoma cells via specific induction of NKG2D ligands by the histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium valproate. Cancer Res 2005; 65:6321-9. [PMID: 16024634 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-4252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 283] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells as components of the innate immunity substantially contribute to antitumor immune responses. However, the tumor-associated ligands engaging activating NK cell receptors are largely unknown. An exception are the MHC class I chain-related molecules MICA and MICB and the UL16-binding proteins (ULBP) which bind to the activating immunoreceptor NKG2D expressed on cytotoxic lymphocytes. A therapeutic induction of NKG2D ligands that primes cancer cells for NK cell lysis has not yet been achieved. By microarray studies, we found evidence that treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells with the histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDAC-I) sodium valproate (VPA) mediates recognition of cancer cells by cytotoxic lymphocytes via NKG2D. VPA induced transcription of MICA and MICB in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, leading to increased cell surface, soluble and total MIC protein expression. No significant changes in the expression of the NKG2D ligands ULBP1-3 were observed. The induction of MIC molecules increased lysis of hepatocellular carcinoma cells by NK cells which was abolished by addition of a blocking NKG2D antibody. Importantly, in primary human hepatocytes, VPA treatment did not induce MIC protein expression. Taken together, our data show that the HDAC-I VPA mediates specific priming of malignant cells for innate immune effector mechanisms. These results suggest the clinical evaluation of HDAC-I in solid tumors such as hepatocellular carcinoma, especially in combination with immunotherapy approaches employing adoptive NK cell transfer.
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MESH Headings
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/immunology
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism
- Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology
- Histocompatibility Antigens Class I/metabolism
- Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
- Humans
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Ligands
- Liver Neoplasms/genetics
- Liver Neoplasms/immunology
- Liver Neoplasms/metabolism
- NK Cell Lectin-Like Receptor Subfamily K
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Receptors, Immunologic/biosynthesis
- Receptors, Immunologic/genetics
- Receptors, Immunologic/immunology
- Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism
- Receptors, Natural Killer Cell
- Up-Regulation/drug effects
- Valproic Acid/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorin Armeanu
- Departments of Internal Medicine I, Internal Medicine II, and Immunology, Eberhard Karls University, Tuebingen, Germany
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Hillemann A, Brandenburg B, Schmidt U, Roos M, Smirnow I, Lemken ML, Lauer UM, Hildt E. Protein transduction with bacterial cytosine deaminase fused to the TLM intercellular transport motif induces profound chemosensitivity to 5-fluorocytosine in human hepatoma cells. J Hepatol 2005; 43:442-50. [PMID: 15922474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2005.02.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2004] [Revised: 02/12/2005] [Accepted: 02/16/2005] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS This study investigates the application of protein based therapeutic suicide enzyme/prodrug approaches providing novel means for both safe and effective local therapeutic regimes in solid tumors. METHODS Employing a novel cell permeable peptide, known as the translocation motif (TLM) of hepatitis B virus, E. coli cytosine deaminase (BCDase) suicide fusion proteins were generated. RESULTS TLM fusion proteins formed hexamers (as do parental wtBCDase proteins) and retained the specific enzymatic activity of cytosine conversion to uracil also being comparable to parental wtBCDase proteins. However, only BCDase-TLM fusion proteins, but not TLM-BCDase fusion nor parental wtBCDase proteins were found to be taken up to the cytoplasm of target cells as demonstrated both by confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell fractionation. Uptake of BCDase-TLM worked both efficiently and rapidly and was found to be independent from the endosomal pathway. Since BCDase-TLM fusion proteins completely retained their suicide enzymatic activity in the course of translocation across the plasma membrane their usage as profound inducers of chemo-sensitivity to 5-FC strongly is suggested. CONCLUSIONS Future therapeutic local application of cell-permeable BCDase-TLM fusion proteins together with a systemic 5-FC prodrug application could result in profound antitumor activities without apparent side effects.
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Graepler F, Verbeek B, Graeter T, Smirnow I, Kong HL, Schuppan D, Bauer M, Vonthein R, Gregor M, Lauer UM. Combined endostatin/sFlt-1 antiangiogenic gene therapy is highly effective in a rat model of HCC. Hepatology 2005; 41:879-86. [PMID: 15739185 DOI: 10.1002/hep.20613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as a suitable target for antiangiogenic strategies. However, antiangiogenic agents aimed at single targets can be neutralized by upregulation of other proangiogenic factors. Therefore, combined approaches addressing at least two angiogenic targets should be more effective. Employing an appropriate rat hepatoma model, we examined the effects of sFlt-1 (soluble vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] receptor 1 as an indirect inhibitor of angiogenesis) and endostatin (a direct inhibitor of angiogenesis) in both single-agent as well as combined approaches under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Similar to human HCC, rat Morris hepatoma (MH) cells secreted high levels of VEGF, but no endogenous sFlt-1. Parental MH or MHES(r) cells, stably expressing rat endostatin, were adenovirally transduced either with AdsFlt-1 (encoding sFlt-1) or control vector Adnull (containing no transgene), followed by subcutaneous inoculation into syngeneic ACI rats. Compared with MH/Adnull cells, expressing no antiangiogenic factors at all, tumor weights were reduced fourfold in the MHES(r)/Adnull group, 19-fold in the MH/AdsFlt-1-group, and 77-fold in the MHES(r)/AdsFlt-1 combination therapy group. Analysis of variance did not show a significant interaction between the effects of the two factors ES(r) and sFlt-1; their effects multiplied. In conclusion, combined expression of sFlt-1 and endostatin effectively suppresses HCC growth under in vivo conditions. Supplementary material for this article can be found on the HEPATOLOGY website (http://interscience.wiley.com/jpages/0270-9139/suppmat/index.html).
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Graepler
- Department of Internal Medicine, University Clinic Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
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Armeanu S, Lauer UM, Smirnow I, Schenk M, Weiss TS, Gregor M, Bitzer M. Adenoviral gene transfer of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand overcomes an impaired response of hepatoma cells but causes severe apoptosis in primary human hepatocytes. Cancer Res 2003; 63:2369-72. [PMID: 12750253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Ligands of the tumor necrosis factor family play key roles in liver pathogenesis. The ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is unique, because it is thought to be nontoxic to normal cells while killing a broad range of tumor cells. However, hepatocellular carcinoma is considered resistant to soluble TRAIL treatment. Therefore, a direct gene transfer of TRAIL to malignant cells is part of an alternative delivery strategy. We show that an adenoviral gene transfer (Ad-TRAIL) overcomes an impaired response of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines to soluble TRAIL, but the transduction of primary human hepatocytes revealed a high number of apoptotic cells. Our data imply that Ad-TRAIL administration in vivo must either be restricted to tumor tissue or controlled by a tumor-specific promoter to avoid severe liver damage in human trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sorin Armeanu
- Medical University Clinic, Department of Internal Medicine I, Tübingen, Germany
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