Data from A Novel A33 Promoter–Based Conditionally Replicative Adenovirus Suppresses Tumor Growth and Eradicates Hepatic Metastases in Human Colon Cancer Models (original) (raw)

A Novel A33 Promoter-Based Conditionally Replicative Adenovirus Suppresses Tumor Growth and Eradicates Hepatic Metastases in Human Colon Cancer Models

Clinical Cancer Research, 2009

A33 antigen is a membrane-bound protein expressed in intestinal epithelium that is overexpressed in 95% of primary and metastatic colorectal carcinomas but is absent in most epithelial tissues and tumor types. We hypothesized that A33 promoter might be useful in the design of a conditionally replicative adenovirus for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Experimental Design: We cloned an A33 promoter fragment (A33Pr) that extends from-105 to +307 bp. Using luciferase activity as a reporter gene, we showed that A33 Pr was active in CRC cell lines. We next constructed a conditionally replicative adenovirus named AV22EL where E1A was placed under the control of A33Pr. The tumor-specific oncolytic effect of AV22EL was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. Results: AV22EL induced specific in vitro lysis of human CRC cell lines that expressed A33 and have negligible lytic capacity on cells that lacked or had minimal A33 expression, including normal human colonic cells. In vivo, a marked reduction of tumor growth and increased long-term survival rates were observed in nude mice xenografted with s.c. CRC tumors. Combination with 5-fluorouracil induced an additive effect in vitro with no toxic effects in vivo. Remarkably, AV22EL completely eliminated established hepatic metastases in >90% of mice and restored hepatic function according to biochemical parameters. Its systemic administration induced E1A expression only in the hepatic metastasis but not in normal organs. Conclusions: These data show that AV22EL is a stringently regulated and potent oncolytic agent for the treatment of CRC. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common cause of cancer mortality in Western countries and claimed >50,000 lives a year only in the United States.4 Close to 70% of patients that are affected by colorectal carcinoma undergo surgical resection and 30% to 40% of them develop a recurrent disease (1). The liver is the most common site of metastatic CRC and complete resection of hepatic metastases is the only curative option; however, surgery can be done only in 20% of patients

Prolonged Survival of Mice with Multiple Liver Metastases of Human Colon Cancer by Intravenous Administration of Replicable E1B-55K-Deleted Adenovirus with E1A Expressed by CEA Promoter

Molecular Therapy, 2004

Liver is the most preferential site for metastasis of colon cancer. We, in the present study, constructed a self-replicable adenovirus in which E1A is driven by a CEA promoter and E1B-55K is deleted from the E1B region (AdCEAp/Rep) and examined its effects on multiple metastases of a human colon cancer cell in a mouse xenograft model. We first showed effective replication of the virus in various CEAproducing human colon cancer cells (M7609, HT-29) and subsequent lysis of the infected cells in vitro. We then demonstrated that a single intratumoral injection of the virus (1 Â 10 8 PFU/100 Ml) induced a complete regression of subcutaneous tumors (M7609) inoculated into nude mice. Further, we demonstrated that systemic administration of the virus (1 Â 10 8 PFU/100 Ml) through the tail vein to nude mice, which 1 week prior had been inoculated with tumor cells (colon carcinoma cell line HT-29) via the spleen and showed apparent multiple metastases in the liver, effectively suppressed the metastasis formation. The mean survival time of the treated mice was significantly longer than that of the controls. Thus, the systemic administration of AdCEAp/Rep was considered to be effective on multiple liver metastases of CEA-positive colon cancer in a xenograft model.

A Novel CDC25B Promoter–Based Oncolytic Adenovirus Inhibited Growth of Orthotopic Human Pancreatic Tumors in Different Preclinical Models

Purpose: We decided to construct a novel oncolytic adenovirus whose replication was driven by the CDC25B promoter for its use in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. Experimental Design: We placed the essential E1A gene under control of the CDC25B promoter. Based on preliminary data, we pseudotyped the adenovirus with a chimeric fiber of serotypes 5/3. We investigated the in vitro lytic effect and the in vivo therapeutic efficacy in combination with gemcitabine on human pancreatic tumor xenografts orthotopically growing in nude mice and in tumors growing in Syrian hamsters. We also assessed biochemical markers of hepatic toxicity and CA19.9 levels. Results: AV25CDC exhibited a strong in vitro lytic effect on pancreatic cancer cells. In vivo administration of AV25CDC combined with gemcitabine in mice harboring subcutaneously growing SW1990 pancreatic tumors almost abrogated tumor growth. Nude mice harboring 15-day-old orthotopic tumors, treated intratumorally or systemically with AV25CDC combined with gemcitabine, exhibited 70% to 80% reduction in tumor size compared with control mice that lasted for at least 60 days. Chemovirotherapy treatment induced a return to normal levels of biochemical parameters of hepatic toxicity; these mice exhibited more than 90% reduction in CA19.9 serum levels compared with control. Chemovirotherapy efficacy was confirmed in mice harboring Mia PaCa-2 tumors and in Syrian hamster harboring HaP-T1 tumors.Weobserved that viral treatment disrupted tumor architecture and induced an increase in MMP-9 activity that might facilitate gemcitabine penetrability. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that AV25CDC is an effective oncolytic agent candidate for pancreatic cancer chemovirotherapy combination. Clin Cancer Res; 1–10. 2014 AACR.

A Novel Chromogranin-A Promoter-Driven Oncolytic Adenovirus for Midgut Carcinoid Therapy

Clinical Cancer Research, 2007

Purpose: The use of replication-selective oncolytic adenoviruses is an emerging therapeutic approach for cancer, which thus far has not been employed for carcinoids.We therefore constructed Ad[CgA-E1A], a novel replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus, where the chromogranin A (CgA) promoter controls expression of the adenoviral E1A gene. Experimental Design: The Ad[CgA-E1A] virus was evaluated for E1A protein expression, replication ability, and cytolytic activity in various cell lines. It was also evaluated for treatment of xenografted human carcinoid tumors in nude mice. To use Ad[CgA-E1A] for the treatment of carcinoid liver metastases, it is important that normal hepatocytes do not support virus replication to minimize hepatotoxicity. We therefore evaluated CgA protein expression in normal hepatocytes. We also evaluated CgA gene expression in normal hepatocytes and microdissected tumor cells from carcinoid metastases. Results: We found that Ad[CgA-E1A] replicates similarly to wild-type virus in tumor cells with neuroendocrine features, including the BON carcinoid cell line and the SH-SY-5Y neuroblastoma cell lines, whereas it is attenuated in other cell types.Thus, cells where the CgA promoter is active are selectively killed. We also found that Ad[CgA-E1A] is able to suppress fast-growing human BON carcinoid tumors in nude mice. Furthermore, CgA is highly expressed in microdissected cells from carcinoid metastases, whereas it is not expressed in normal hepatocytes. Conclusion: Ad[CgA-E1A] is an interesting agent for the treatment of carcinoid liver metastases in conjunction with standard therapy for these malignancies.

Combined therapy of colon carcinomas with an oncolytic adenovirus and valproic acid

Oncotarget

The anti-tumor potential of oncolytic adenoviruses (CRAds) has been demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies. While these agents failed to eradicate tumors when used as a monotherapy, they may be more effective if combined with conventional treatments such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy. This study seeks to evaluate the combination of a CRAd bearing a ∆24 deletion in E1A with valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, for the treatment of human colon carcinomas. This combination led to a strong inhibition of cell growth both in vitro and in vivo compared to treatment with CRAd or VPA alone. This effect did not stem from a better CRAd replication and production in the presence of VPA. Inhibition of cell proliferation and cell death were induced by the combined treatment. Moreover, whereas cells treated only with CRAd displayed a polyploidy (> 4N population), this phenotype was increased in cells treated with both CRAd and VPA. In addition, the increase in polyploidy triggered by combined treatment with CRAd and VPA was associated with the enhancement of H2AX phosphorylation (γH2AX), a hallmark of DNA damage, but also with a decrease of several DNA repair proteins. Finally, viral replication (or E1A expression) was shown to play a key role in the observed effects since no enhancement of polyploidy nor increase in γH2AX were found following cell treatment with a replication-deficient Ad and VPA. Taken together, our results suggest that CRAd and VPA could be used in combination for the treatment of colon carcinomas.

Combined Transductional Untargeting/Retargeting and Transcriptional Restriction Enhances Adenovirus Gene Targeting and Therapy for Hepatic Colorectal Cancer Tumors

Cancer Research, 2009

Unresectable hepatic colorectal cancer (CRC) metastases are a leading cause of cancer mortality. These tumors and other epithelial tumors often express both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Because adenovirus (Ad) vectors infect the liver and lack tumor tropism, they cannot be used for systemic therapy of hepatic metastases. We used COX-2 transcriptional restriction, in combination with transductional Ad hepatic untargeting and tumor retargeting by a bispecific adapter, sCARhMFE, composed of sCAR [the coxsackie/Ad receptor (CAR) ectodomain] and MFE-23 (a single-chain anti-CEA antibody), to untarget liver after i.v. administration of Ad vectors expressing firefly luciferase and to retarget virus to hepatic colorectal tumor xenografts and non–small cell lung tumor xenografts. To improve both liver untargeting and tumor retargeting, we developed sCARfMFE, a trimerized sCARhMFE adapter. Trimerization greatly improves both untargeting of CAR-dependent Ad infec...

Transduction and Oncolytic Profile of a Potent Replication-Competent Adenovirus 11p Vector (RCAd11pGFP) in Colon Carcinoma Cells

PLoS ONE, 2011

Replication-competent adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) vectors promise to be more efficient gene delivery vehicles than their replication-deficient counterparts, and chimeric Ad5 vectors that are capable of targeting CD46 are more effective than Ad5 vectors with native fibers. Although several strategies have been used to improve gene transduction and oncolysis, either by modifying their tropism or enhancing their replication capacity, some tumor cells are still relatively refractory to infection by chimeric Ad5. The oncolytic effects of the vectors are apparent in certain tumors but not in others. Here, we report the biological and oncolytic profiles of a replication-competent adenovirus 11p vector (RCAd11pGFP) in colon carcinoma cells. CD46 was abundantly expressed in all cells studied; however, the transduction efficiency of RCAd11pGFP varied. RCAd11pGFP efficiently transduced HT-29, HCT-8, and LS174T cells, but it transduced T84 cells, derived from a colon cancer metastasis in the lung, less efficiently. Interestingly, RCAd11p replicated more rapidly in the T84 cells than in HCT-8 and LS174T cells and as rapidly as in HT-29 cells. Cell toxicity and proliferation assays indicated that RCAd11pGFP had the highest cell-killing activities in HT29 and T84 cells, the latter of which also expressed the highest levels of glycoproteins of the carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) family. In vivo experiments showed significant growth inhibition of T84 and HT-29 tumors in xenograft mice treated with either RCAd11pGFP or Ad11pwt compared to untreated controls. Thus, RCAd11pGFP has a potent cytotoxic effect on colon carcinoma cells.

A modified E2F-1 promoter improves the efficacy to toxicity ratio of oncolytic adenoviruses

Gene Therapy, 2009

The E2F-1 promoter has been used to confer tumorselective E1A expression in oncolytic adenoviruses. Tumor specificity is mainly conferred by a unique structure of E2F-responsive sites organized in palindromes. Binding of the E2F-pRb complex to these palindromes results in repression of transcription in normal cells. Owing to deregulation of the Rb/p16 pathway in tumor cells, binding of free E2F activates transcription and initiates an autoactivation loop involving E1A and E4-6/7. ICOVIR-7 is a new oncolytic adenovirus designed to increase the E2F dependency of E1A gene expression. It incorporates additional palindromes of E2F-responsive sites in an insulated E2F-1 promoter controlling E1A-D24. The E2F palindromes inhibited replication in normal cells, resulting in a low systemic toxicity at high doses in immunocompetent mice. The D24 deletion avoids a loop of E2F-mediated selfactivation in nontumor cells. Importantly, the additional E2F-binding hairpins boost the positive feedback loop on the basis of E1A-mediated transcriptional regulation of E4-6/7 turned on in cancer cells and increased antitumoral potency as shown in murine subcutaneous xenograft models treated by intravenous injection. These results suggest that the unique genetic combination featured in ICOVIR-7 may be promising for treating disseminated neoplasias.