title: A novel genetically modified oncolytic vaccinia virus in experimental models is effective against a wide range of human cancers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Replication-competent oncolytic viruses have shown great promise as a potential cancer treatment. This study aimed to determine whether a novel vaccinia virus, GLV-1h151, with genetic modifications enhancing cancer specificity and enabling virus detection, is effective against a range of human cancers and is safe when administered in preclinical models.
  
  
  METHODS
  GLV-1h151 was modified with deletion of thymidine kinase enhancing specificity and insertion of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene. The virus was tested in several human cancer cell lines for cytotoxicity including breast, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal. Virus replication was assessed via visualization of GFP expression and bioluminescence, and viral plaque assays. Finally, GLV-1h151 was administered systemically or intratumorally in mice with pancreatic cancer xenografts (PANC-1) to assess virus biodistribution, toxicity, and effect on tumor growth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  GLV-1h151 effectively infected, replicated in, and killed several cancer cell types. Detection and visualization of virus replication was successful via fluorescence imaging of GFP expression, which was dose dependent. When administered intravenously or intratumorally in vivo, GLV-1h151 regressed tumor growth (P < 0.001) and displayed a good biosafety profile. GLV-1h151 infection and replication in tumors was successfully visualized via GFP and bioluminescence, with virus presence in tumors confirmed histologically.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GLV-1h151 is effective as an oncolytic agent against a wide range of cancers in cell culture and is effective against pancreatic human xenografts displaying a good biosafety profile and ability to be detected via optical imaging. GLV-1h151 thus adds another potential medium for the killing of cancer and detection of virus in infected tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Dana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haddad
authors.forename: Nanhai
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Chun-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yong A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Lorena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Pingdong
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Aladar A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Szalay
authors.forename: Yuman
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D014616:Vaccinia virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D014779:Virus Replication; D023041:Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
chemical_list: D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins