Jen-Chieh Tseng

Using sindbis viral vectors for specific detection and suppression of advanced ovarian cancer in animal models.

We studied the therapeutic value of Sindbis vectors for advanced metastatic ovarian cancer by using two highly reproducible and clinically accurate mouse models: a SCID xenograft model, established by i.p. inoculation of human ES-2 ovarian cancer cells, and a syngenic C57BL/6 model, established by i.p. inoculation of mouse MOSEC ovarian cancer cells. We demonstrate through imaging, histologic, and molecular data that Sindbis vectors systemically and specifically infect/detect and kill metastasized tumors in the peritoneal cavity, leading to significant suppression of the carcinomatosis in both animal models. Use of two different bioluminescent genetic markers for the IVIS Imaging System permitted demonstration, for the first time, of an excellent correlation between vector delivery and metastatic locations in vivo. Sindbis vector infection and growth suppression of murine MOSEC tumor cells indicate that Sindbis tumor specificity is not attributable to a species difference between human tumor and mouse normal cells. Sindbis virus is known to infect mammalian cells using the Mr 67,000 laminin receptor. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor cells indicates that laminin receptor is elevated in tumor versus normal cells. Down-regulated expression of laminin receptor with small interfering RNA significantly reduces the infectivity of Sindbis vectors. Tumor overexpression of the laminin receptor may explain the specificity and efficacy that Sindbis vectors demonstrate for tumor cells in vivo. We show that incorporation of antitumor cytokine genes such as interleukin-12 and interleukin-15 genes enhances the efficacy of the vector. These results suggest that Sindbis viral vectors may be promising agents for both specific detection and growth suppression of metastatic ovarian cancer.

Multiple Functions of the 37/67-kd Laminin Receptor Make It a Suitable Target for Novel Cancer Gene Therapy

The 37/67-kd laminin receptor, LAMR, is a multifunctional protein that associates with the 40S ribosomal subunit and also localizes to the cell membrane to interact with the extracellular matrix. LAMR is overexpressed in many types of cancer, playing important roles in tumor-cell migration and invasion. Here, we show that LAMR is also vital for tumor-cell proliferation, survival, and protein translation. Small-interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated reduction in expression of LAMR leads to G1 phase cell-cycle arrest in vitro by altering cyclins A2/B1, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 1/2, Survivin, and p21 expression levels. In vivo, reduction in LAMR expression results in inhibition of HT1080 cells to develop tumors. We also found that LAMRs ribosomal functions are critical for translation as reduction in LAMR expression leads to a dramatic decrease in newly synthesized proteins. Further, cells with lower expression of LAMR have fewer 40S subunits and 80S monosomes, causing an increase in free 60S ribosomal subunits. These results indicate that LAMR is able to regulate tumor development in many ways; further enhancing its potential as a target for gene therapy. To test this, we developed a novel Sindbis/Lenti pseudotype vector carrying short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) designed against lamr. This pseudotype vector effectively reduces LAMR expression and specifically targets tumors in vivo. Treatment of tumor-bearing severe combine immunodeficient (SCID) mice with this pseudotype vector significantly inhibits tumor growth. Thus, we show that LAMR can be used as a target in novel therapy for tumor reduction and elimination.

Enhanced specific delivery and targeting of oncolytic Sindbis viral vectors by modulating vascular leakiness in tumor.

Genetic instability of cancer cells generates resistance after initial responses to chemotherapeutic agents. Several oncolytic viruses have been designed to exploit specific signatures of cancer cells, such as important surface markers or pivotal signaling pathways for selective replication. It is less likely for cancer cells to develop resistance given that mutations in these cancer signatures would negatively impact tumor growth and survival. However, as oncolytic viral vectors are large particles, they suffer from inefficient extravasation from tumor blood vessels. Their ability to reach cancer cells is an important consideration in achieving specific oncolytic targeting and potential vector replication. Our previous studies indicated that the Sindbis viral vectors target tumor cells by the laminin receptor. Here, we present evidence that modulating tumor vascular leakiness, using VEGF and/or metronomic chemotherapy regimens, significantly enhances tumor vascular permeability and directly enhances oncolytic Sindbis vector targeting in tumor models. Because host-derived vascular endothelium cells are genetically stable and less likely to develop resistance to chemotherapeutics, a combined metronomic chemotherapeutics and oncolytic vector regimen should provide a new approach for cancer therapy. This mechanism could explain the synergistic treatment outcomes observed in clinical trials of combined therapies.

Sindbis viral vectors target hematopoietic malignant cells

Sindbis viral vectors target and inhibit the growth of various solid tumors in mouse models. However, their efficacy against blood cancer has not been well established. Here, we show that Sindbis vectors infect and efficiently trigger apoptosis in mouse BW5147 malignant hematopoietic T-cells, but only at low levels in human lymphoma and leukemia cells (Jurkat, Karpas, CEM, DHL and JB). The Mr 37/67 kD laminin receptor (LAMR) has been suggested to be the receptor for Sindbis virus. However, JB cells, which are infected by Sindbis at low efficiency, express high levels of LAMR, revealing that additional factors are involved in Sindbis tropism. To test the infectivity and therapeutic efficacy of Sindbis vectors against malignant hematopoietic cells in vivo, we injected BW5147 cells intraperitoneally into (C3HXAKR) F1 hybrid mice. We found that Sindbis vectors targeted the tumors and significantly prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice. We also tested the Sindbis vectors in a transgenic CD4-Rgr model, which spontaneously develop thymic lymphomas. However, infectivity in this model was less efficient. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Sindbis vectors have the potential to target and kill hematopoietic malignancies in mice, but further research is needed to evaluate the mechanism underlining the susceptibility of human lymphoid malignancies to Sindbis therapy.

Tumor-Specific Targeting With Modified Sindbis Viral Vectors: Evaluation with Optical Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography In Vivo

PurposeSindbis virus (SINV) infect tumor cells specifically and systemically throughout the body. Sindbis vectors are capable of expressing high levels of transduced suicide genes and thus efficiently produce enzymes for prodrug conversion in infected tumor cells. The ability to monitor suicide gene expression levels and viral load in patients, after administration of the vectors, would significantly enhance this tumor-specific therapeutic option.ProceduresThe tumor specificity of SINV is mediated by the 67-kDa laminin receptor (LR). We probed different cancer cell lines for their LR expression and, to determine the specific role of LR-expression in the infection cycle, used different molecular imaging strategies, such as bioluminescence, fluorescence molecular tomography, and positron emission tomography, to evaluate SINV-mediated infection in vitro and in vivo.ResultsAll cancer cell lines showed a marked expression of LR. The infection rates of the SINV particles, however, differed significantly among the cell lines.ConclusionWe used novel molecular imaging techniques to visualize vector delivery to different neoplatic cells. SINV infection rates proofed to be not solely dependent on cellular LR expression. Further studies need to evaluate the herein discussed ways of cellular infection and viral replication.