Oncolytic peptide LTX-315 induces an immune-mediated abscopal effect in a rat sarcoma model

Oncoimmunology. 2017 Jun 16;6(8):e1338236. doi: 10.1080/2162402X.2017.1338236. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

LTX 315 is an oncolytic peptide with potent immunological properties. In the present study, we demonstrate that intratumoral treatment with LTX-315 resulted in a complete regression and systemic immune response in a rat fibrosarcoma model. The treatment was T-cell dependent, and also resulted in an abscopal effect as demonstrated by the regression of distal non-treated lesions. Significant infiltration of CD8+ T cells was observed in both treated and non-treated lesions, as shown by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric analysis. LTX-315 rapidly killed the cells in vitro with a lytic mode of action followed by the subsequent release of Danger-Associated Molecular Pattern (DAMP) molecules such as HMGB1, ATP and Cytochrome c. Together, our data demonstrate that LTX-315 represents a new approach to cancer immunotherapy, which has the potential as a novel immunotherapeutic agent.

Keywords: DAMP; Immunotherapy; LTX-315; Sarcoma; oncolytic peptide.