Human Trial of a Genetically Modified Herpes Simplex Virus for Rapid Detection of Positive Peritoneal Cytology in the Staging of Pancreatic Cancer.
BACKGROUND
Patients with peritoneal dissemination of pancreatic adenocarcinoma do not benefit from surgical resection, but radiologic and cytologic detection of peritoneal cancer lack sensitivity. This trial sought to determine if an oncolytic virus may be used as a diagnostic agent to detect peritoneal cancer.


METHODS
Peritoneal washings from patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were incubated with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-expressing oncolytic herpes simplex virus (HSV) NV1066. eGFP-positive or negative status was recorded for each specimen and compared to results obtained by conventional cytologic evaluation. These results were correlated with recurrence and survival for patients who underwent R0 resection.


RESULTS
Of 82 patients entered in this trial, 12 (15%) had positive cytology and 50 (61%) had virally-mediated eGFP positive cells in peritoneal washings. All cytology-positive patients were also eGFP positive. HSV-mediated fluorescence detection had sensitivities of 94% and 100% for detection of any and peritoneal metastatic disease; respectively. Median recurrence free and disease specific survival were 6.5 and 18.3months for eGFP positive patients, versus 12.2 and 36.2months for eGFP negative patients (P=0.01 and 0.19); respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A genetically modified HSV can be used as a highly sensitive diagnostic agent for detection of micro-metastatic disease in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and may improve patient selection for surgery.
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Kaitlyn J
KJ
Kelly
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Joyce
J
Wong
Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Mithat
M
Gönen
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Peter
P
Allen
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Murray
M
Brennan
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States.
Daniel
D
Coit
Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, United States. Electronic address: yfong@coh.org.
Yuman
Y
Fong
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000235:genetics*; D016019:Survival Analysis
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
Diagnostic laparoscopy; Herpes simplex virus; Oncolytic viral therapy; Pancreatic adenocarcinoma; Peritoneal fluid cytology