| First Author | Balathasan L | Year | 2017 |
| Journal | Mol Ther Oncolytics | Volume | 7 |
| Pages | 45-56 | PubMed ID | 29062886 |
| Mgi Jnum | J:353127 | Mgi Id | MGI:7666180 |
| Doi | 10.1016/j.omto.2017.09.004 | Citation | Balathasan L, et al. (2017) Activating Peripheral Innate Immunity Enables Safe and Effective Oncolytic Virotherapy in the Brain. Mol Ther Oncolytics 7:45-56 |
| abstractText | The oncolytic mutant vesicular stomatitis virus VSVDelta51 achieves robust efficacy in multiple extracranial tumor models. Yet for malignancies of the brain, direct intratumoral infusion of VSVDelta51 causes lethal virus-induced neuropathology. Here, we have developed a novel therapeutic regime that uses peripheral immunization with a single sub-lethal dose of VSVDelta51 to establish an acute anti-viral state that enables the safe intracranial (IC) infusion of an otherwise lethal dose of VSVDelta51 within just 6 hr. Although type I interferons alone appeared insufficient to explain this protective phenotype, serum isolated at early time points from primed animals conferred protection against an IC dose of virus. Adaptive immune populations had minimal contributions. Finally, the therapeutic utility of this novel strategy was demonstrated by peripherally priming and intracranially treating mice bearing aggressive CT2A syngeneic astrocytomas with VSVDelta51. Approximately 25% of animals achieved complete regression of established tumors, with no signs of virus-induced neurological impairment. This approach may harness an early warning system in the brain that has evolved to protect the host against otherwise lethal neurotropic viral infections. We have exploited this protective mechanism to safely and efficaciously treat brain tumors with an otherwise neurotoxic virus, potentially widening the available treatment options for oncolytic virotherapy in the brain. |
