title: E4orf1 limits the oncolytic potential of the E1B-55K deletion mutant adenovirus.
abstract: Clinical trials have shown oncolytic adenoviruses to be tumor selective with minimal toxicity toward normal tissue. The virus ONYX-015, in which the gene encoding the early region 1B 55-kDa (E1B-55K) protein is deleted, has been most effective when used in combination with either chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Therefore, improving the oncolytic nature of tumor-selective adenoviruses remains an important objective for improving this form of cancer therapy. Cells infected during the G(1) phase of the cell cycle with the E1B-55K deletion mutant virus exhibit a reduced rate of viral late protein synthesis, produce fewer viral progeny, and are less efficiently killed than cells infected during the S phase. Here we demonstrate that the G(1) restriction imposed on the E1B-55K deletion mutant virus is due to the viral oncogene encoded by open reading frame 1 of early region 4 (E4orf1). E4orf1 has been reported to signal through the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase pathway leading to the activation of Akt, mTOR, and p70 S6K. Evidence presented here shows that E4orf1 may also induce the phosphorylation of Akt and p70 S6K in a manner that depends on Rac1 and its guanine nucleotide exchange factor Tiam1. Accordingly, agents that have been reported to disrupt the Tiam1-Rac1 interaction or to prevent phosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 kinase partially alleviated the E4orf1 restriction to late viral protein synthesis and enhanced tumor cell killing by the E1B-55K mutant virus. These results demonstrate that E4orf1 limits the oncolytic nature of a conditionally replicating adenovirus such as ONYX-015. The therapeutic value of similar oncolytic adenoviruses may be improved by abrogating E4orf1 function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical Center Blvd., Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1064, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Robin S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Broughton
authors.forename: Felicia D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Goodrum
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ornelles
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000378:metabolism; D000075684:T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1; D014765:Viral Vaccines; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020662:Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors; D009856:Oncogene Proteins, Viral; D000075684:T-Lymphoma Invasion and Metastasis-inducing Protein 1; C087334:TIAM1 protein, human; D014765:Viral Vaccines; C464532:dl1520; D051058:Oncogene Protein v-akt; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa; D020830:rac1 GTP-Binding Protein