Carrier cell-mediated delivery of a replication-competent adenovirus for cancer gene therapy

Mol Ther. 2007 Jun;15(6):1121-8. doi: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300128. Epub 2007 Mar 27.

Abstract

Although replication-competent viruses have been developed to treat cancers, their cytotoxic effects are insufficient, as infection is inhibited by the generation of neutralizing antibodies. To address this limitation, we developed a carrier cell system to deliver a replication-competent adenovirus. Carrier cells infected with replication-competent adenovirus were incubated with target cancer cells in a high titer of anti-adenovirus antibody. Carrier cells were injected into syngeneic subcutaneous tumors after immunization with adenovirus. Carrier cell-derived cell fragments containing viral particles were engulfed by proliferative target cancer cells. This engulfment-mediated transfer of adenovirus was not inhibited by the anti-adenovirus antibody and enabled repetitive infection. After the induction of anti-adenoviral cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses by immunization with adenovirus, administration of carrier cells infected with a replication-competent adenovirus induced complete tumor regression. Adenovirus-GM-CSF augmented the anti-tumor effect of carrier cells by increasing anti-adenoviral and anti-tumoral CTL responses and decreased the number of injections of carrier cells required to induce complete tumor regression. This novel carrier cell-mediated viral transfection system might prove useful in a variety of cancer therapies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Adenoviridae / immunology
  • Animals
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cell Survival
  • Female
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / genetics
  • HT29 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Neoplasms / immunology
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic / immunology
  • Viral Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Viral Vaccines / immunology
  • Virus Replication / genetics*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays / methods

Substances

  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Viral Vaccines
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor