Macrophage delivery of an oncolytic virus abolishes tumor regrowth and metastasis after chemotherapy or irradiation

Cancer Res. 2013 Jan 15;73(2):490-5. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-12-3056. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

Abstract

Frontline anticancer therapies such as chemotherapy and irradiation often slow tumor growth, but tumor regrowth and spread to distant sites usually occurs after the conclusion of treatment. We recently showed that macrophages could be used to deliver large quantities of a hypoxia-regulated, prostate-specific oncolytic virus (OV) to prostate tumors. In the current study, we show that administration of such OV-armed macrophages 48 hours after chemotherapy (docetaxel) or tumor irradiation abolished the posttreatment regrowth of primary prostate tumors in mice and their spread to the lungs for up to 27 or 40 days, respectively. It also significantly increased the lifespan of tumor-bearing mice compared with those given docetaxel or irradiation alone. These new findings suggest that such a novel, macrophage-based virotherapy could be used to markedly increase the efficacy of chemotherapy and irradiation in patients with prostate cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Docetaxel
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / therapy
  • Macrophages / virology*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / radiotherapy
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Recurrence
  • Taxoids / administration & dosage*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Taxoids
  • Docetaxel