Engineered Herpes Simplex Viruses for the Treatment of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Abstract
Many patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1) will develop tumors in their peripheral nerves that progress to a cancer called a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor or MPNST. These tumors grow progressively and if they cannot be completely removed surgically, they are eventually fatal. Radiation provides some benefit but is mostly ineffective and there are no proven chemotherapies or medicines that will prevent the progressive growth of these tumors. We have been working with genetically engineered human herpes simplex virus (HSV) as a means of treating nervous system tumors. We have genetically modified these viruses to make them safe and unable to grow in normal cells, but that can grow in tumor cells causing them to die, a process called oncolysis (tumorlysis). In addition, we have inserted genes in these viruses that allow them to overcome different mechanisms that tumor cells have to prevent virus growth. Our objective is to determine how effectively MPNST cells can be infected and killed by our engineered HSVs. We will test our panel of viruses against a panel of MPNST-derived cells. We will examine the molecular features of the tumor cells to identify similarities which reflect a tumor cells response to oHSV.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 2015
- Accession Number
- AD1007579
Entities
People
- Catherine P. Lankford
- G. Y. Gillespie
- James M. Markert
- Jennifer M. Coleman
- Joshua D. Jackson
- Stephanie J. Byer
- Steven L. Carroll
Organizations
- University of Alabama at Birmingham