Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T17:35:05.043Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Viral gene therapy for head and neck cancer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 March 2015

J P Hughes ,
G Alusi  and
Y Wang
J P Hughes*
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Imperial College NHS Trust, London, UK
G Alusi
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK Department of Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
Y Wang
Affiliation:
Centre for Molecular Oncology, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, UK Sino-British Research Centre for Molecular Oncology, Zhengzhou University, Henan, China
*
Address for correspondence: Mr J P Hughes, c/o ENT secretaries, 3rd floor South Wing, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UK Fax: 020 3311 1070, E-mail: jonathanphughes@gmail.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Viral gene therapy is a promising new treatment modality for head and neck cancer. This paper provides the reader with a review of the relevant literature in this field.

Results:

There are government licensed viral gene therapy products currently in use for head and neck cancer, utilised in conjunction with established treatment modalities. The viruses target tumour-associated genes, with the first licensed virus replacing p53 gene function, which is frequently lost in tumourigenesis. Oncolytic viruses selectively destroy cancer cells through viral replication and can be armed with therapeutic transgenes.

Conclusion:

Despite considerable advances in this field over the last 40 years, further research is needed to improve the overall efficacy of the viruses and allow their widespread utilisation in the management of head and neck cancer.

Keywords

Genetic TherapyHead And Neck CancerVirusesOncolytic Virotherapy
Type
Review Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 129 , Issue 4 , April 2015 , pp. 314 - 320
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

J P Hughes was the recipient of an award from The Journal of Laryngology & Otology towards his PhD in 2009.

References

1Hu, JC, Coffin, RS, Davis, CJ, Graham, NJ, Groves, N, Guest, PJ et al. A phase I study of OncoVEXGM-CSF, a second-generation oncolytic herpes simplex virus expressing granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Clin Cancer Res 2006;12:6737–47CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Peng, Z.Current status of gendicine in China: recombinant human Ad-p53 agent for treatment of cancers. Hum Gene Ther 2005;16:1016–27Google Scholar
3Department Of Health. Genetics White Paper ‘Our inheritance, our future – realising the potential of genetics in the NHS’, 2003. In: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/documents/digitalasset/dh_4019239.pdf [24 November 2014]Google Scholar
4Lehrman, S.Virus treatment questioned after gene therapy death. Nature 1999;401:517–18CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Young, LS, Searle, PF, Onion, D, Mautner, V.Viral gene therapy strategies: from basic science to clinical application. J Pathol 2006;208:299–318Google Scholar
6Hanahan, D, Weinberg, RA.The hallmarks of cancer. Cell 2000;100:57–70CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Edelstein, ML, Abedi, MR, Wixon, J.Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2007--an update. J Gene Med 2007;9:833–42Google Scholar
8Vile, RG, Russell, SJ, Lemoine, NR.Cancer gene therapy: hard lessons and new courses. Gene Ther 2000;7:2–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9Hunt, JL, Barnes, L, Lewis, JS Jr, Mahfouz, ME, Slootweg, PJ, Thompson, LD.Molecular diagnostic alterations in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and potential diagnostic applications. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014;271:211–23CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10Weinstein, IB. Cancer.Addiction to oncogenes--the Achilles heal of cancer. Science 2002;297:63–4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11Liang, K, Ang, KK, Milas, L, Hunter, N, Fan, Z.The epidermal growth factor receptor mediates radioresistance. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2003;57:246–54Google Scholar
12Parato, KA, Breitbach, CJ, Le Boeuf, F, Wang, J, Storbeck, C, Ilkow, C et al. The oncolytic poxvirus JX-594 selectively replicates in and destroys cancer cells driven by genetic pathways commonly activated in cancers. Mol Ther 2012;20:749–58CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13Zaoui, K, Bossow, S, Grossardt, C, Leber, MF, Springfeld, C, Plinkert, PK et al. Chemovirotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with EGFR-targeted and CD/UPRT-armed oncolytic measles virus. Cancer Gene Ther 2012;19:181–91CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14Han, JB, Tao, ZZ, Chen, SM, Kong, YG, Xiao, BK.Adenovirus-mediated transfer of tris-shRNAs induced apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Lett 2011;309:162–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15Brennan, JA, Mao, L, Hruban, RH, Boyle, JO, Eby, YJ, Koch, WM et al. Molecular assessment of histopathological staging in squamous-cell carcinoma of the head and neck. N Engl J Med 1995;332:429–35Google Scholar
16Shiraishi, K, Kato, S, Han, SY, Liu, W, Otsuka, K, Sakayori, M et al. Isolation of temperature-sensitive p53 mutations from a comprehensive missense mutation library. J Biol Chem 2004;279:348–55Google Scholar
17Searle, PF, Chen, MJ, Hu, L, Race, PR, Lovering, AL, Grove, JI et al. Nitroreductase: a prodrug-activating enzyme for cancer gene therapy. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol 2004;31:811–16Google Scholar
18Liu, CC, Shen, Z, Kung, HF, Lin, MC.Cancer gene therapy targeting angiogenesis: an updated review. World J Gastroenterol 2006;12:6941–8CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19Adhim, Z, Lin, X, Huang, W, Morishita, N, Nakamura, T, Yasui, H et al. E10A, an adenovirus-carrying endostatin gene, dramatically increased the tumor drug concentration of metronomic chemotherapy with low-dose cisplatin in a xenograft mouse model for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma. Cancer Gene Ther 2012;19:144–52Google Scholar
20Tysome, JR, Wang, P, Alusi, G, Briat, A, Gangeswaran, R, Wang, J et al. Lister vaccine strain of vaccinia virus armed with the endostatin-angiostatin fusion gene: an oncolytic virus superior to dl1520 (ONYX-015) for human head and neck cancer. Hum Gene Ther 2011;22:1101–8Google Scholar
21Jiang, M, Liu, Z, Xiang, Y, Ma, H, Liu, S, Liu, Y et al. Synergistic antitumor effect of AAV-mediated TRAIL expression combined with cisplatin on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. BMC Cancer 2011;11:54CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
22Zitvogel, L, Tesniere, A, Kroemer, G.Cancer despite immunosurveillance: immunoselection and immunosubversion. Nat Rev Immunol 2006;6:715–27CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
23Bai, XF, Liu, J, Li, O, Zheng, P, Liu, Y.Antigenic drift as a mechanism for tumor evasion of destruction by cytolytic T lymphocytes. J Clin Invest 2003;111:1487–96CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24Bubenik, J.MHC class I down-regulation: tumour escape from immune surveillance? (Review) Int J Oncol 2004;25:487–91Google ScholarPubMed
25Lehmann, C, Zeis, M, Schmitz, N, Uharek, L.Impaired binding of perforin on the surface of tumor cells is a cause of target cell resistance against cytotoxic effector cells. Blood 2000;96:594–600CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
26Real, LM, Jimenez, P, Kirkin, A, Serrano, A, Garcia, A, Canton, J et al. Multiple mechanisms of immune evasion can coexist in melanoma tumor cell lines derived from the same patient. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2001;49:621–8Google Scholar
27Shin, MS, Kim, HS, Lee, SH, Park, WS, Kim, SY, Park, JY et al. Mutations of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) and receptor 2 (TRAIL-R2) genes in metastatic breast cancers. Cancer Res 2001;61:4942–6Google Scholar
28Kowalczyk, DW.Tumors and the danger model. Acta Biochim Pol 2002;49:295–302CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
29Elpek, KG, Lacelle, C, Singh, NP, Yolcu, ES, Shirwan, H.CD4+ CD25+ T regulatory cells dominate multiple immune evasion mechanisms in early but not late phases of tumor development in a B cell lymphoma model. J Immunol 2007;178:6840–8Google Scholar
30Ryschich, E, Schmidt, J, Hammerling, GJ, Klar, E, Ganss, R.Transformation of the microvascular system during multistage tumorigenesis. Int J Cancer 2002;97:719–25Google Scholar
31Uyttenhove, C, Pilotte, L, Theate, I, Stroobant, V, Colau, D, Parmentier, N et al. Evidence for a tumoral immune resistance mechanism based on tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase. Nat Med 2003;9:1269–74Google Scholar
32Zhang, XM, Xu, Q.Metastatic melanoma cells escape from immunosurveillance through the novel mechanism of releasing nitric oxide to induce dysfunction of immunocytes. Melanoma Res 2001;11:559–67Google Scholar
33Beck, C, Schreiber, H, Rowley, D.Role of TGF-beta in immune-evasion of cancer. Microsc Res Tech 2001;52:387–95Google Scholar
34Kawamura, K, Bahar, R, Natsume, W, Sakiyama, S, Tagawa, M.Secretion of interleukin-10 from murine colon carcinoma cells suppresses systemic antitumor immunity and impairs protective immunity induced against the tumors. Cancer Gene Ther 2002;9:109–15CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
35Whiteside, TL.Tumor-induced death of immune cells: its mechanisms and consequences. Semin Cancer Biol 2002;12:43–50Google Scholar
36Gallina, G, Dolcetti, L, Serafini, P, De Santo, C, Marigo, I, Colombo, MP et al. Tumors induce a subset of inflammatory monocytes with immunosuppressive activity on CD8+ T cells. J Clin Invest 2006;116:2777–90Google Scholar
37Chen, B, Timiryasova, TM, Haghighat, P, Andres, ML, Kajioka, EH, Dutta-Roy, R et al. Low-dose vaccinia virus-mediated cytokine gene therapy of glioma. J Immunother 2001;24:46–57Google Scholar
38Kaufman, HL, Rao, JB, Irvine, KR, Bronte, V, Rosenberg, SA, Restifo, NP.Interleukin-10 enhances the therapeutic effectiveness of a recombinant poxvirus-based vaccine in an experimental murine tumor model. J Immunother 1999;22:489–96Google Scholar
39Kirn, DH, Thorne, SH.Targeted and armed oncolytic poxviruses: a novel multi-mechanistic therapeutic class for cancer. Nat Rev Cancer 2009;9:64–71CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
40Kaneda, Y, Tabata, Y.Non-viral vectors for cancer therapy. Cancer Sci 2006;97:348–54Google Scholar
41Everts, B, van der Poel, HG.Replication-selective oncolytic viruses in the treatment of cancer. Cancer Gene Ther 2005;12:141–61Google Scholar
42Parato, KA, Senger, D, Forsyth, PA, Bell, JC.Recent progress in the battle between oncolytic viruses and tumours. Nat Rev Cancer 2005;5:965–76CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
43Dock, G.Influence of complicating diseases upon leukaemia. Am J Med Sci 1904;127:563–92Google Scholar
44Wong, HH, Lemoine, NR, Wang, Y.Oncolytic viruses for cancer therapy: overcoming the obstacles. Viruses 2010;2:78–106CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
45Martuza, RL, Malick, A, Markert, JM, Ruffner, KL, Coen, DM.Experimental therapy of human glioma by means of a genetically engineered virus mutant. Science 1991;252:854–6Google Scholar
46Garber, K.China approves world's first oncolytic virus therapy for cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:298–300Google Scholar
47Chang, J, Zhao, X, Wu, X, Guo, Y, Guo, H, Cao, J et al. A phase I study of KH901, a conditionally replicating granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor: armed oncolytic adenovirus for the treatment of head and neck cancers. Cancer Biol Ther 2009;8:676–82Google Scholar
48McCart, JA, Ward, JM, Lee, J, Hu, Y, Alexander, HR, Libutti, SK et al. Systemic cancer therapy with a tumor-selective vaccinia virus mutant lacking thymidine kinase and vaccinia growth factor genes. Cancer Res 2001;61:8751–7Google Scholar
49Ginn, SL, Alexander, IE, Edelstein, ML, Abedi, MR, Wixon, J.Gene therapy clinical trials worldwide to 2012 - an update. J Gene Med 2013;15:65–77CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
50Chisholm, E, Bapat, U, Chisholm, C, Alusi, G, Vassaux, G.Gene therapy in head and neck cancer: a review. Postgrad Med J 2007;83:731–7Google Scholar
51Vorburger, SA, Hunt, KK.Adenoviral gene therapy. Oncologist 2002;7:46–59Google Scholar
52Jee, YS, Lee, SG, Lee, JC, Kim, MJ, Lee, JJ, Kim, DY et al. Reduced expression of coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR) in tumor tissue compared to normal epithelium in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Anticancer Res 2002;22:2629–34Google ScholarPubMed
53Harrington, KJ, Nutting, CM, Pandha, HS.Gene therapy for head and neck cancer. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2005;24:147–64Google Scholar
54Taylor, WR, Stark, GR.Regulation of the G2/M transition by p53. Oncogene 2001;20:1803–15Google Scholar
55Teodoro, JG, Evans, SK, Green, MR.Inhibition of tumor angiogenesis by p53: a new role for the guardian of the genome. J Mol Med (Berl) 2007;85:1175–86Google Scholar
56Han, DM, Huang, ZG, Zhang, W, Yu, ZK, Wang, Q, Ni, X et al. Effectiveness of recombinant adenovirus p53 injection on laryngeal cancer: phase I clinical trial and follow up [in Chinese]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2003;83:2029–32Google Scholar
57Lee, J, Moon, C.Current status of experimental therapeutics for head and neck cancer. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2011;236:375–89CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
58Pan, JJ, Zhang, SW, Chen, CB, Xiao, SW, Sun, Y, Liu, CQ et al. Effect of recombinant adenovirus-p53 combined with radiotherapy on long-term prognosis of advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 2009;27:799–804CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
59Zhang, SW, Xiao, SW, Liu, CQ, Sun, Y, Su, X, Li, DM et al. Recombinant adenovirus-p53 gene therapy combined with radiotherapy for head and neck squamous-cell carcinoma [in Chinese]. Zhonghua Zhong Liu Za Zhi 2005;27:426–8Google Scholar
60Zhang, SW, Xiao, SW, Liu, CQ, Sun, Y, Su, X, Li, DM et al. Treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by recombinant adenovirus-p53 combined with radiotherapy: a phase II clinical trial of 42 cases [in Chinese]. Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi 2003;83:2023–8Google Scholar
61Clayman, GL, el-Naggar, AK, Lippman, SM, Henderson, YC, Frederick, M, Merritt, JA et al. Adenovirus-mediated p53 gene transfer in patients with advanced recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. J Clin Oncol 1998;16:2221–32Google Scholar
62Clayman, GL, Frank, DK, Bruso, PA, Goepfert, H.Adenovirus-mediated wild-type p53 gene transfer as a surgical adjuvant in advanced head and neck cancers. Clin Cancer Res 1999;5:1715–22Google ScholarPubMed
63Nemunaitis, J, Clayman, G, Agarwala, SS, Hrushesky, W, Wells, JR, Moore, C et al. Biomarkers predict p53 gene therapy efficacy in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Clin Cancer Res 2009;15:7719–25Google Scholar
64O'Shea, CC, Johnson, L, Bagus, B, Choi, S, Nicholas, C, Shen, A et al. Late viral RNA export, rather than p53 inactivation, determines ONYX-015 tumor selectivity. Cancer Cell 2004;6:611–23CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
65Khuri, FR, Nemunaitis, J, Ganly, I, Arseneau, J, Tannock, IF, Romel, L et al. A controlled trial of intratumoral ONYX-015, a selectively-replicating adenovirus, in combination with cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil in patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. Nat Med 2000;6:879–85CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
66Xu, RH, Yuan, ZY, Guan, ZZ, Cao, Y, Wang, HQ, Hu, XH et al. Phase II clinical study of intratumoral H101, an E1B deleted adenovirus, in combination with chemotherapy in patients with cancer [in Chinese]. Ai Zheng 2003;22:1307–10Google Scholar
67Lu, W, Zheng, S, Li, XF, Huang, JJ, Zheng, X, Li, Z.Intra-tumor injection of H101, a recombinant adenovirus, in combination with chemotherapy in patients with advanced cancers: a pilot phase II clinical trial. World J Gastroenterol 2004;10:3634–8Google Scholar
68Xia, ZJ, Chang, JH, Zhang, L, Jiang, WQ, Guan, ZZ, Liu, JW et al. Phase III randomized clinical trial of intratumoral injection of E1B gene-deleted adenovirus (H101) combined with cisplatin-based chemotherapy in treating squamous cell cancer of head and neck or esophagus [in Chinese]. Ai Zheng 2004;23:1666–70Google Scholar
69Borrello, I, Pardoll, D.GM-CSF-based cellular vaccines: a review of the clinical experience. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2002;13:185–93Google Scholar
70Ruden, M, Puri, N.Novel anticancer therapeutics targeting telomerase. Cancer Treat Rev 2013;39:444–56Google Scholar
71Mace, AT, Ganly, I, Soutar, DS, Brown, SM.Potential for efficacy of the oncolytic Herpes simplex virus 1716 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. Head Neck 2008;30:1045–51Google Scholar
72Papanastassiou, V, Rampling, R, Fraser, M, Petty, R, Hadley, D, Nicoll, J et al. The potential for efficacy of the modified (ICP 34.5(-)) herpes simplex virus HSV1716 following intratumoural injection into human malignant glioma: a proof of principle study. Gene Ther 2002;9:398–406CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed