Anticancer activity of oncolytic adenovirus vector armed with IFN-alpha and ADP is enhanced by pharmacologically controlled expression of TRAIL

Cancer Gene Ther. 2008 Feb;15(2):61-72. doi: 10.1038/sj.cgt.7701107. Epub 2007 Nov 9.

Abstract

We have previously described oncolytic adenovirus (Ad) vectors KD3 and KD3-interferon (IFN) that were rendered cancer-specific by mutations in the E1A region of Ad; these mutations abolish binding of E1A proteins to p300/CBP and pRB. The antitumor activity of the vectors was enhanced by overexpression of the Adenovirus Death Protein (ADP, E3-11.6K) and by replication-linked expression of IFN-alpha. We hypothesized that the anticancer efficacy of the KD3-IFN vector could be further improved by expression of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). E1-deleted Ad vectors were constructed carrying reporter genes for enhanced green fluorescent protein or secreted placental alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and a therapeutic gene for TRAIL under control of the TetON system. Expression of the genes was increased in the presence of a helper virus and the inducer doxycycline such that up to 231-fold activation of expression for the TetON-SEAP vector was obtained. Coinfection with TetON-TRAIL augmented oncolytic activity of KD3 and KD3-IFN in vitro. Induction of TRAIL expression did not reduce the yield of progeny virus. Combination of TetON-TRAIL and KD3-IFN produced superior antitumor activity in vivo as compared with either vector alone demonstrating the efficacy of a four-pronged cancer gene therapy approach, which includes Ad oncolysis, ADP overexpression, IFN-alpha-mediated immunotherapy, and pharmacologically controlled TRAIL activity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics*
  • Adenoviridae / physiology
  • Adenovirus E3 Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Adenovirus E3 Proteins / genetics*
  • Adenovirus E3 Proteins / physiology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Doxycycline / pharmacology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / physiology
  • Genetic Therapy*
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Humans
  • Interferon-alpha / biosynthesis
  • Interferon-alpha / genetics*
  • Interferon-alpha / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / biosynthesis*
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / genetics*
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand / physiology
  • Tetracycline / pharmacology

Substances

  • Adenovirus E3 Proteins
  • Interferon-alpha
  • TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand
  • TNFSF10 protein, human
  • adenovirus death protein, Adenovirus
  • Tetracycline
  • Doxycycline