• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.303-309
• /
• 2013

Oncolytic vaccinia virus is an engineered vaccinia virus that selectively destroys cancer cells and induces tumor immune response. Oncolytic vaccinia expressing mouse GM-CSF showed cytotoxic activity against various kinds of cancer cells when oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing human GM-CSF and mouse GM-CSF is intravenously administered in the mouse CT26 colon tumor model. Cancer cells treated with isolated immunoglobulin G from the serum with complement showed these cytotoxic activity and complement observed dose-dependent cytotoxic effect. These results suggest that oncolytic vaccinia virus expressing mouse GM-CSF can increase oncolytic vaccinia virus by inducing anticancer antibody in a mouse tumor model. Further studies are needed on antitumor immunity of GM-CSF.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.10
• /
• pp.565-570
• /
• 2015

In several reports, the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified as an oncolytic virus in cancer cells (e.g., lung and prostate cancer). However, the effects of RSV in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells have not yet been investigated. Here, we observed the inhibitory effects of RSV infection in HCC cell-lines. Cell growth was significantly decreased by RSV infection in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. After RSV infection, plaque formation and syncytial formation were observed in affected Hep3B and Huh-7 cells. RSV protein-expression was also detected in Hep3B and Huh-7 cells; however, only Huh-7 cells showed apoptosis after RSV infection. Furthermore, inhibition of cell migration by RSV infection was observed in BNL-HCC, Hep3B, Huh-7 and SNU-739 cells. Therefore, further investigation is required to clarify the molecular mechanism of RSV-mediated inhibition of HCC cell growth, and to develop potential RSV oncolytic viro-therapeutics.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.148-151
• /
• 2006

We have previously reported that 2.4 kb of L-plastin promoter (LP) could regulate the expression of adenoviral vector (AV) exogenous genes in a tumor cell specific manner. In the present study, we tested if the replication competent AdLPE1A vector results in a direct cytotoxic effect in hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) cells. In vitro cytotoxicity tests were carried out with replication-competent (AdLPE1A) and -incompetent (AdLPCD) LP-driven vectors. AdLPE1A is an AV in which LP was inserted 5' to the E1A and E1B genes. The AdLPCD vector contains LP and the E. coli cytosine deaminase (CD) gene in transcription unit. Exposure of cells to AdLPE1A generated a significant cytotoxic effect as compared to the control. Almost 90% of the cell had manifested the characteristic cytopatic effect on day 9 after infection of cells with 10 MOI of AdLPE1A. On the other hand, almost 35% of the cells were left when the cells had been treated with 100 MOI of AdLPCD together with 5-FC on day 9 when compared with the cells which had never been exposed neither 5-FC nor AdLPCD. These results showed that the replication competent AdLPE1A vector could kill the HepG2 cells directly by the oncolytic effect of the virus. The replication competent AV vector carrying viral E1A generated greater cytotoxic effect than the replication incompetent AV, which contains the CD prodrug activation transcription unit without E1A, in HepG2 cells.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.130-136
• /
• 2006

Introduction : The sensitivity of tumor cells to radiotherapy is a critical determinant of local control and potential cure in advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma(HNSCC). The emergence of radioresistant tumor cells is an obstacle to cancer therapy. Most radioresistant cells have a higher proportion of cells in the Sphase of the cell cycle and a lower apoptotic fraction than radiosensitive cells. HSV replication is increased in cells that have higher S-phase fractions. NV1066 is an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type-1 mutant. We hypothesized that NV1066 replication and cytotoxicity are increased in radioresistant cells. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antitumor efficacy of NV1066 to treat radioresistant HNSCC. Methods : Radioresistant cells were selected by treating five HNSCC cell lines with repeated conventional fractionated doses of radiation(2Gy/day), using a Cs-137 irradiator, up to a cumulative dose of 70Gy. Clonogenic cell survival and S-phase fractions were compared between radioresistant and parental radiosensitive cells. The two cell populations were then treated with NV1066 to examine viral replication, by the viral plaque assay and viral cytotoxicity. Results : Fractionated irradiation resulted in the selection of radioresistant cells. Radioresistant cells had a higher S-phase fraction(42.9%) compared to parental cells(26.2%). NV1066 replication in radioresistant cells was 7.4 times higher than in parental cells(p<0.01). Treatment with NV1066 resulted in increased cytotoxicity of 24.5% in radioresistant cells compared to parental cells(p<0.05). Conclusion : NV1066 showed increased viral replication and cytotoxicity in radioresistant HNSCC cell lines. These findings suggest a potential clinical application for this oncolytic viral therapy as treatment for radioresistant head and neck cancers.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.23-33
• /
• 2016

Pexa-Vec (JX-594) is a specific cancer-targeted oncolytic and immunotherapeutic vaccinia virus. The purpose of this study was to develop methods to maximize the stability of Pexa-Vec. In short-term instability testing, viral activity was rapidly decreased both at 4℃ and at room temperature (RT), but it was completely restored after sonication followed by vortex. Long-term stability testing of Pexa-Vec in the following liquid formulations was performed: (A) 30 mM Tris/pH 7.6, (B) 30 mM Tris/pH 8.6, (C) 30 mM Tris/pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl, 15% sucrose, (D) 30 mM Tris/pH 7.6, 15% sucrose, and (E) 30 mM Tris/pH 8.6, 15% sucrose. Viral activity decreased less than 2 log10 at 4℃, and RT was observed in 3 days in B, while viral activity was not decreased even after 4–8 weeks at 4℃ and at 1 week in RT in A, suggesting that neutral pH may be essential to maintain virus stability. The addition of 15% sucrose into A (D) significantly increased viral stability at −20℃, 4℃, or RT, and it was also observed at pH 8.6 (E). The addition of 150 mM NaCl into D (C) significantly increased viral stability in addition to the sucrose effect at 4℃ or RT. Accordingly, the viral activity in formulation C was maintained for 1.5 years at 4℃, and for 1-2 weeks in RT. In conclusion, we propose that formulation C can provide the most adequate condition for the proper storage of vaccinia oncolytic virus.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.75-79
• /
• 2011

The replication competent adenoviral vector (AV), AdLPCDIRESE1A was generated and reported previously to have cytotoxic effects in some cell lines. In AdLPCDIRESE1A, the expression of cytosine deaminse (CD) and E1A genes are under the control of tumor-specific L-plastin promoter. CD enzyme can deaminate the nontoxic prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to the toxic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). E1A gene is essential for viral replication. Primary liver cancer, most of which is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the third common leading cancer in Korea. Thus, we have conducted in vitro preclinical study to evaluate effectiveness of AdLPCDIRESE1A on HCC. The efficacy of cytotoxicity was measured by generation of cytopathic effect (CPE) and cell counting. We infected HepG2 cells with various MOI of vector alone or concurrent with 5-FC. Exposure of cells to AdLPCDIRESE1A generated a significant cytotoxic effect as compared to the control. Almost 83% of the cell had manifested the characteristic cytotoxic effect on day 9 after infection of cells with 10 MOI of vector. We also observed the additive cytotoxic effects when AdLPCDIRESE1A vector had been coadministrated with 5-FC. The results suggest that the use of AdLPCDIRESE1A/5FC may be value in treatment of liver cancer. Further animal studies are needed for clinical trial.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.7
• /
• pp.835-846
• /
• 2016

Chemo-resistance is the biggest issue of effective cancer therapy. ABCG2 is highly correlated with multi-drug resistance, and represent a typical phenotype of multiple cancer stem-like cells. Accumulating evidence recently reported that oncolytic viruses represent a new strategy for multiple aggressive cancers and drug resistant cancers including cancer stem cell-like cells and ABCG2 expressing cells. In this study, we generated an evolutionally engineered vaccinia virus, SLJ-496, for drug-resistant cancer therapy. We first showed that SLJ-496 treatment enhanced tumor affinity using cytopathic effect assay, plaque assay, as well as cell viability assay. Next, we clearly demonstrated that in vitro SLJ-496 treatment represents significant cytotoxic effect in multiple cancers including colorectal cancer cells (HT-29, HCT-116, HCT-8), gastric cancer cells (AGS, NCI-N87, MKN-28), Hepatocellular carcinoma cells (SNU-449, SNU-423, SNU-475, HepG2), as well as mesothelioma cell (NCI-H226, NCI-H28, MSTO-221h). Highly ABCG2 expressing HT-29 cells represent cancer stem like phenotype including stem cell marker expression, and self-renewal bioactivities. Interestingly, we demonstrated that in vitro treatment of SLJ-496 showed significant cytotoxicity effect, as well as viral replication capacity in ABCG2 overexpressing cell. In addition, we also demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of SLJ-496 in Adriamycin-resistant cell lines, SNU-620 and ADR-300. Taken together, these findings provide us a pivotal clue that cancer therapy using SLJ-496 vaccinia virus might be new therapeutic strategy to overcome ABCG2 expressing cancer stem-like cell and multiple chemo-resistance cancer cells.