The effects of radiation on antitumor efficacy of an oncolytic adenovirus vector in the Syrian hamster model

Cancer Gene Ther. 2013 Sep;20(9):531-7. doi: 10.1038/cgt.2013.50. Epub 2013 Aug 9.

Abstract

We report that radiation enhances the antitumor efficacy of the oncolytic adenovirus vector VRX-007 in Syrian hamster tumors. We used tumor-specific irradiation of subcutaneous tumors and compared treatment options of radiation alone or combined with VRX-007 and cyclophosphamide (CP). Radiation therapy further augmented the VRX-007-mediated inhibition of tumor growth, in both CP-treated and non-CP-treated hamsters, even though radiation did not lead to increased viral replication in tumors when compared with those treated with VRX-007 alone. Moreover, tumor growth inhibition was similar in tumors irradiated either 1 week before or after injection with VRX-007, which suggests that radiation exerts its antitumor effect independently from vector therapy. Thus, our results demonstrate that these two therapies do not have to be provided simultaneously to enhance their combined effectiveness against subcutaneous hamster tumors.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / physiology*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cricetinae
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage
  • Genetic Vectors / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Neoplasms* / radiotherapy
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Oncolytic Virotherapy
  • Oncolytic Viruses / physiology*
  • Radiation*
  • Tumor Burden / drug effects
  • Tumor Burden / radiation effects
  • Virus Replication / radiation effects

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Cyclophosphamide