Eradication of glioblastoma by immuno-virotherapy with a retargeted oncolytic HSV in a preclinical model

Oncogene. 2019 Jun;38(23):4467-4479. doi: 10.1038/s41388-019-0737-2. Epub 2019 Feb 12.

Abstract

Oncolytic herpes simplex viruses are proving to be effective in clinical trials against a number of cancers. Here, R-115, an oncolytic herpes simplex virus retargeted to human erbB-2, fully virulent in its target cells, and armed with murine interleukin-12 was evaluated in a murine model of glioblastoma. We show that a single R-115 injection in established tumors resulted, in about 30% of animals, in the complete eradication of the tumor, otherwise invariably lethal. The treatment also induced a significant improvement in the overall median survival time of mice and a resistance to recurrence from the same neoplasia. Such a high degree of protection was unprecedented; it was not observed before following treatments with the commonly used, mutated/attenuated oncolytic viruses. This is the first study providing the evidence of benefits offered by a fully virulent, retargeted, and armed herpes simplex virus in the treatment of glioblastoma and paves the way for clinical translation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Brain Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism
  • Glioblastoma / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy / methods*
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 / metabolism
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods*
  • Oncolytic Viruses
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis / metabolism
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Simplexvirus / genetics*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Il12a protein, mouse
  • Interleukin-12 Subunit p35
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2