Systemic activation of the immune system during ganciclovir treatment following intratumoral herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase gene transfer in an adolescent ependymoma patient.
During ganciclovir treatment of an adolescent ependymoma patient two weeks after intracranial implantation of HSVtk retroviral vector producer cells, increasing numbers of peripheral T- and B-cells were found as well as enhanced T-cell activation and elevated serum levels of interleukin 12 and soluble Fas ligand. These findings suggest the systemic activation of the immune system during ganciclovir treatment in our patient. The induction of an immune response by HSVtk/ganciclovir supports the concept of an anti-tumor vaccination effect by prodrug activating gene therapy systems and may open new promising perspectives for enhancing therapeutic efficiency by combined prodrug activating and immunological gene therapy strategies.
Kramm
C M
CM
Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Children's Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany. kramm@uni-duesseldorf.de
Korholz
D
D
Rainov
N G
NG
Niehues
T
T
Fischer
U
U
Steffens
S
S
Frank
S
S
Banning
U
U
Horneff
G
G
Schroten
H
H
Burdach
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D015774:Ganciclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D013937:Thymidine Kinase / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D013937:Thymidine Kinase; D015774:Ganciclovir