Harnessing oncolytic virus-mediated antitumor immunity in an infected cell vaccine

Mol Ther. 2012 Sep;20(9):1791-9. doi: 10.1038/mt.2012.128. Epub 2012 Jul 3.

Abstract

Treatment of permissive tumors with the oncolytic virus (OV) VSV-Δ51 leads to a robust antitumor T-cell response, which contributes to efficacy; however, many tumors are not permissive to in vivo treatment with VSV-Δ51. In an attempt to channel the immune stimulatory properties of VSV-Δ51 and broaden the scope of tumors that can be treated by an OV, we have developed a potent oncolytic vaccine platform, consisting of tumor cells infected with VSV-Δ51. We demonstrate that prophylactic immunization with this infected cell vaccine (ICV) protected mice from subsequent tumor challenge, and expression of granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) by the virus (VSVgm-ICV) increased efficacy. Immunization with VSVgm-ICV in the VSV-resistant B16-F10 model induced maturation of dendritic and natural killer (NK) cell populations. The challenge tumor is rapidly infiltrated by a large number of interferon γ (IFNγ)-producing T and NK cells. Finally, we demonstrate that this approach is robust enough to control the growth of established tumors. This strategy is broadly applicable because of VSV's extremely broad tropism, allowing nearly all cell types to be infected at high multiplicities of infection in vitro, where the virus replication kinetics outpace the cellular IFN response. It is also personalized to the unique tumor antigen(s) displayed by the cancer cell.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / genetics
  • Antigens, Neoplasm / immunology
  • Cancer Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Cancer Vaccines / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Female
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-gamma / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Melanoma, Experimental / immunology
  • Melanoma, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Melanoma, Experimental / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy / methods
  • Oncolytic Viruses / genetics
  • Oncolytic Viruses / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / immunology
  • Skin Neoplasms / prevention & control*
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy*
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Vero Cells
  • Vesiculovirus / genetics
  • Vesiculovirus / immunology*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Cancer Vaccines
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor