Oncolytic Adenoviral Vector-Mediated Expression of an Anti-PD-L1-scFv Improves Anti-Tumoral Efficacy in a Melanoma Mouse Model

oleh: Maria Vitale, Maria Vitale, Filippo Scialò, Filippo Scialò, Margherita Passariello, Margherita Passariello, Eleonora Leggiero, Anna D’Agostino, Lorella Tripodi, Laura Gentile, Andrea Bianco, Giuseppe Castaldo, Giuseppe Castaldo, Vincenzo Cerullo, Vincenzo Cerullo, Claudia De Lorenzo, Claudia De Lorenzo, Lucio Pastore, Lucio Pastore

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-05-01

Deskripsi

Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging therapeutic approach based on replication-competent viruses able to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells, inducing the release of tumor-associated antigens and thereby recruiting immune cells with a subsequent increase in antitumoral immune response. To increase the anticancer activity, we engineered a specific oncolytic adenovirus expressing a single-chain variable fragment of an antibody against PD-L1 to combine blockage of PD-1/PD-L1 interaction with the antitumoral activity of Onc.Ad5. To assess its efficacy, we infected B16.OVA cells, a murine model of melanoma, with Ad5Δ24 -anti-PD-L1-scFv and then co-cultured them with C57BL/6J naïve splenocytes. We observed that the combinatorial treatments were significantly more effective in inducing cancer cell death. Furthermore, we assessed the efficacy of intratumoral administrations of Ad5Δ24-anti-PD-L1-scFv in C57BL/6J mice engrafted with B16.OVA and compared this treatment to that of the parental Ad5Δ24 or placebo. Treatment with the scFv-expressing Onc.Ad induced a marked reduction of tumor growth concerning the parental Onc.Ad. Additionally, the evaluation of the lymphocytic population infiltrating the treated tumor reveals a favorable immune profile with an enhancement of the CD8+ population. These data suggest that Onc.Ad-mediated expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors increases oncolytic virotherapy efficacy and could be an effective and promising tool for cancer treatments, opening a new way into cancer therapy.