The replication-competent oncolytic herpes simplex mutant virus NV1066 is effective in the treatment of esophageal cancer

BACKGROUND: The oncolytic herpes simplex-1 virus, NV1066, is a replication-competent virus that has been engineered to infect and lyse tumor cells selectively and to carry a transgene for enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The purpose of this study was to determine viral cytotoxicity in an esophageal cancer cell line and to determine whether EGFP expression could be used as a marker of viral infection. METHODS: BE3 esophageal adenocarcinoma cells were infected with NV1066 in vitro to determine cell kill and viral replication. EGFP expression was assessed by flow cytometry. The in vivo anti-tumor activity of NV1066 was tested in subcutaneous and intraperitoneal xenograft models. EGFP expression was localized in vivo by fluorescent microscopy and fluorescent laparoscopy. RESULTS: NV1066 effectively replicated within and killed BE3 cells in vitro and in vivo. EGFP expression identified infected tumor cells. After NV1066 treatment in vivo, EGFP expression localized to the tumor. In an intraperitoneal tumor model, EGFP could be visualized endoscopically using a laparoscope with a fluorescent filter. CONCLUSIONS: NV1066 has oncolytic activity against the BE3 cell line and may be a useful therapy against esophageal cancer. EGFP expression localizes the virus and may help to identify tumor deposits in vivo. Oncolytic activity with NV1066 against gastrointestinal cancers may potentially be tracked by endoscopy.     

Efficacy of multiagent herpes simplex virus amplicon-mediated immunotherapy as adjuvant treatment for experimental hepatic cancer

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of herpes simplex viral (HSV) amplicon vectors for production of tumor vaccines and to determine if such vaccines expressing combinations of immunostimulatory agents may be effective in the treatment of experimental liver cancer. METHODS: A hepatic metastatic tumor model using CT-26 colorectal cancer in syngeneic Balb/C mice was utilized. Tumor vaccines were produced by brief (20 minutes) exposure of irradiated tumor cells to herpes amplicon vectors carrying the transgene for RANTES, B7.1, or GM-CSF. The antitumor efficacy of vaccination using tumor cells secreting GM-CSF (single agent) or a combination of RANTES/B7.1/GM-CSF (multiagent) was tested. The effect of 60% hepatectomy or T-cell depletion was also tested in this model. RESULTS: In vitro assays confirmed high-level cytokine or costimulatory molecule production by cells transduced with amplicons. Antitumor efficacy was observed with single-agent or multiagent treatment. Without hepatectomy, immunization with single-agent or multiagent vaccine therapy appears equivalent. When administered in the setting of hepatectomy, multiagent regimens produced a higher cure rate than single-agent therapy (50% vs. 12.5%, =.03). Animals treated with GM-CSF alone had an average nodule count of 40 +/- 19 ( <.006 vs. Hep control 232 +/- 30), while animals treated with multiagent therapy had an average nodule count of 11 +/- 7 ( <.0004 vs. control). CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte blockade abrogated observed efficacy, confirming a lymphocyte-mediated response. CONCLUSIONS: Tumor vaccines produced using HSV amplicon-mediated gene transfer may be useful in the treatment of liver malignancies. In the setting of hepatectomy, multiagent vaccine therapy offers an advantage over single-agent therapy. These data encourage consideration of such HSV-based neoadjuvant immunotherapy for treatment of liver malignancies.     

Adenoviral herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene therapy in an orthotopic lung cancer model

Background. Although adenovirus-mediated herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSVtk) gene therapy is a potential candidate for a novel effective therapy for lung cancer, previous studies have been performed only in a subcutaneous tumor model employing nude mice. We studied therapeutic potentials in correlation with accurate adenoviral gene transduction efficiency in a more clinically relevant orthotopic lung cancer model employing imunocompetent mice.

Methods. To analyze the cytotoxicity of adenoviral HSVtk gene transduction and ganciclovir, a cell proliferation assay was performed in vitro. A survival study was carried out in immunocompetent mice with orthotopic lung cancer, which was generated by intrapulmonary inoculation with syngeneic murine lung cancer cells that had been infected beforehand with each adenoviral vector at the predetermined gene transduction efficiencies.

Results. Tumor cells were efficiently killed by infection with adenovirus carrying the HSVtk gene with the addition of ganciclovir in vitro. In the in vivo experiment all control mice died of rapid growth of the primary lung cancer and of metastases to mediastinal lymph nodes within 26 days after tumor inoculation. In contrast 50% and 100% of mice survived more than 40 days after inoculation with adenovirally HSVtk-transfected tumor cells that moderately and highly expressed HSVtk, respectively, when followed by ganciclovir administration. Gene transduction efficiencies were 67%.

Conclusions. Adenovirus-mediated HSVtk gene therapy may be therapeutic for lung cancer when gene transduction efficiencies and sufficient expression levels of HSVtk can be achieved. Moreover, the present findings underscore the importance of the mouse orthotopic lung cancer model for studies of gene therapy.     

Gene therapy using replication-defective herpes simplex virus vectors expressing nerve growth factor in a rat model of diabetic cystopathy

Diabetic cystopathy is one of the common complications of diabetes and current therapy is limited. In the present study, the effects of gene therapy, using replication-defective herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) vectors to deliver and express the nerve growth factor (NGF) gene (HSV-NGF) on tissue NGF levels and bladder function, were evaluated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats exhibited a significant decrease in NGF levels in the bladder and lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia (DRG) detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and displayed marked bladder dysfunction 12 weeks after STZ injection. In contrast, rats with bladder wall injection of the NGF expression vector 8 weeks after STZ treatment exhibited a significant increase of NGF levels in the bladder and L6 DRG 4 weeks after HSV-NGF injection. Along with the restoration of tissue NGF expression, in metabolic cage studies and cystometry, HSV-NGF-injected rats also showed significantly reduced bladder capacity and postvoid residual volume than diabetic rats injected with the control vector (HSV-lacZ), indicating that voiding function was improved after HSV vector-mediated NGF gene delivery. Thus, HSV vector-mediated NGF gene therapy may prove useful to restore decreased NGF expression in the bladder and bladder afferent pathways, thereby improving hypoactive bladder function in diabetes.     

Surgical treatment of pleural metastases in breast cancer

Pleural metastases of breast cancer is a severe progression of the disease and the treatment is difficult. Distant metastases are mainly treated by chemo-, radio- or hormone therapy, but in recent years surgical intervention is increasingly important. Between the 1st of January 1992 and 31st of December 2001 in the 2nd Department of Surgery University of Debrecen Medical and Health Science Center Medical School of Medicine 43 patients with breast cancer were operated on because of pleural metastases. In these patients biopsy and pleurodesis with talcum insufflation were performed. The surgical treatment was followed by chemotherapy. Pleurodesis was successful at 76.7 percent. The 6, 12 and 24 months survival was 58.1, 39.5 and 16.3 percent. Based on literature data and own experience we conclude that surgical intervention with adjuvant therapy extends life expectancy for patients with pleural metastases. Pleurodesis can prevent or delay hydrothorax, it improves vital functions and the quality of life for patients with pleural metastases.     

腺病毒介导的胸苷激酶基因治疗肝癌的研究进展

肝癌是我国常见的恶性肿瘤,针对肝癌的传统治疗方法疗效欠佳、患者预后较差.近10余年来,随着分子生物学技术的发展,肝癌的基因治疗成为该领域新的研究方向和热点,其中以腺病毒为载体的单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶自杀基因系统（ADV-tk）对肝癌的治疗研究开展得最早也最为广泛.其原理是把单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶基因通过腺病毒导入细胞内,利用其产生的酶将无毒的药物前体更昔洛韦（GCV）转变成细胞毒性产物,从而杀死肝癌细胞.多项动物实验和临床研究结果表明：ADV-tk/GCV系统是治疗肝癌的有效方法.本文总结近年来ADV-tk/GCV系统在肝癌治疗中取得的研究进展,分别从载体的发展过程、基因的作用机制、导入方式、增强杀伤效力、降低肝毒性以及相关动物模型的改进等几个方面进行综述.     

Hyperbaric oxygen as a chemotherapy adjuvant in the treatment of metastatic lung tumors in a rat model

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to test the hypothesis that hyperbaric levels of oxygen enhance the sensitivity of a sarcoma cell line to doxorubicin (Adriamycin) both in vitro and in vivo in a rat model of pulmonary metastases and to test the feasibility of arterialization of mixed venous blood by direct injection of aqueous oxygen into the pulmonary artery in a rat model. METHODS: Rat sarcoma (MCA-2) cells were incubated in the presence of increasing concentrations of doxorubicin (0.1-2.0 micromol/L). A dose-dependent toxicity relationship at 12 hours of treatment was examined with and without pretreatment with hyperbaric oxygen (3.7 atm absolute for 1.5-3.5 hours). In vivo, Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were injected intravenously with 10(6) MCA-2 cells, and the lung tumors were allowed to mature for 14 days. At that time the animals were divided into four groups: control (no treatment), doxorubicin at 2 mg/kg, hyperbaric oxygen (oxygen at 2 atm absolute for 30 minutes), and hyperbaric oxygen plus doxorubicin. Seven days after treatment, the numbers of lung nodules were counted and the lung weights were determined. In additional rats (n = 7), aqueous oxygen (1 mL oxygen/g saline solution) was infused into the pulmonary artery to determine whether arterialization of mixed venous blood was comparable to pulmonary artery oxygenation with a hyperbaric chamber (n = 7). RESULTS: Hyperbaric oxygen plus doxorubicin produced significantly greater cytolysis of MCA-2 cells (P <.01) than did doxorubicin alone. Hyperbaric oxygen plus doxorubicin also significantly decreased the number of lung metastases and the lung weight relative to doxorubicin alone (P <.01 and P <.01, respectively). The feasibility of arterialization of mixed venous blood (>100 mm Hg) with aqueous oxygen infusion was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperbaric oxygen enhanced the chemotherapeutic effect of doxorubicin both in cell culture and in the rat model. Aqueous oxygen infusion can be used to oxygenate mixed venous blood at levels similar to those obtained with the use of a hyperbaric chamber.     

Decorin as a new treatment alternative in Peyronie's disease: preliminary results in the rat model

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of decorin, a naturally occurring proteoglycan with anti‐transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) activity, on the rat model of Peyronie's disease (PD). Twenty‐five adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided in three groups: I) TGF‐β (0.5 μg) injected (n: 8); II) TGF‐β injected and decorin treated (n: 8); and III) controls (n: 9). Decorin (0.5 μg per day) was given with intracavernous injection on the second, third, fourth and fifth day following TGF‐β injection. All rats underwent electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve after 6 weeks. Intracavernosal and arterial blood pressures were measured during this procedure. Cross‐sections of the rat penises were examined using Mason trichrome and H&E stains. Statistical analyses were carried out using one‐way anova . Histopathological examinations confirmed the Peyronie's‐like condition in TGF‐β‐injected rats, which exhibited a thickening of the tunica albuginea (TA), when compared to controls. Disorganisation of collagen on the TA was also prominent in TGF‐β‐injected rats, but not in decorin‐treated and control rats. Decorin‐treated rats showed significantly higher maximal intracavernosal pressure (MIP) responses to cavernous nerve stimulation, when compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that decorin antagonises the effects of TGF‐β in the rat model of PD and prevents diminished erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation.     

一种新型大鼠胰腺癌模型的制备

目的 研制一种普通大鼠胰腺癌模型。方法 切开ＳＤ大鼠胰腺被膜及部分胰腺实质,深１ｍｍ,置入９ｍｇ的二甲基苯并蒽（ＤＭＢＡ）,缝合胰腺被膜。结果 ３￣５个人大鼠胰腺癌发生率为６５％（３３／５０）,其中３０只为胰腺导管上皮腺癌,镜下癌细胞呈腺管样分布,腺腔大小不一,核异型明显,并可见癌细胞巢;３只大鼠形成胰腺纤维肉瘤,胰腺完全消失,被弥漫分布的纤维肉瘤细胞取代。结论 采用较大剂量的ＤＭＢＡ直接置入胰腺     

Abatacept as a therapeutic option in the treatment of encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis: an experimental rat model

International Urology and Nephrology - Encapsulated peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a rare complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD) and is usually associated with mortality. Inflammation is...     

Effects of different levels of direct current on early ligament healing in a rat model

Electrical stimulation has been shown to enhance the repair of biological tissues such as bone and tendon. The objective of this study was to determine whether low level direct current enhances the early healing of injured medial collateral ligaments. Eighty-seven rats were divided into three groups on the basis of the level of current delivered. All underwent transection of the medial collateral ligament bilaterally. The experimental medial collateral ligaments received current (which varied by group), while the contralateral medial collateral ligaments (the controls), with identical electrodes, received no current. After 12 days, each ligament was tested biomechanically with use of a hydraulic materials testing machine. Group 1 (8.6 ± 5.9 μA) showed statistically significant improvements in maximum rupture force, energy absorbed, stiffness, and laxity. The groups that had received lower levels of current did not show significant improvements. In this study, stimulation of 1–20 μA was the most effective level of direct current for the enhancement of early healing of the medial collateral ligament.     

Disseminated herpes simplex virus infection in a renal transplant patient as possible cause of repeated urinary extravasations

Disseminated herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections are infrequent in patients receiving organ transplants, but usually have a poor outcome. We describe the case of a renal transplant patient who developed a disseminated HSV-2 infection with repeated urinary extravasations. The diagnosis was carried out using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction nested assay and it suggested HSV-2 as a possible cause of repeated urinary fistulas.     

胫骨癌痛大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞的活化

目的 观察胫骨癌痛大鼠脊髓星形胶质细胞的活化情况,探讨骨癌痛产生与维持的机制.方法 Walker 256乳腺癌细胞经大鼠体内腹水传代增殖,种植于大鼠左侧胫骨建立胫骨癌痛模型.雌性SD大鼠35只,体重150-180 g,随机分为3组:对照组(C组,n=5)、热杀死肿瘤细胞组(K组.n=15)、胫骨癌痛组(P组,n=15).C组选取5只大鼠,K组和P组于种植后第6天、第12天和第18天随机取5只大鼠测定左后足机械痛阈,随后处死大鼠,取左侧L4-6脊髓组织,采用免疫组化方法检测脊髓背角胶质原纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)表达水平.结果 与C组比较,K组大鼠左后足机械痛阈及左侧脊髓背角GFAP表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).与K组比较,P组于种植癌细胞后第6天、第12天及第18天时大鼠左后足机械痛阈降低,左侧脊髓背角GFAP表达升高(P<0.01).与种植癌细胞后第6天比较,种植癌细胞后第12、18天时P组大鼠左后足机械痛阈下降,左侧脊髓背角GFAP表达升高(P<0.01),而P组种植癌细胞后第12天与第18天比较,大鼠左后足机械痛阈与脊髓背角GFAP表达差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 脊髓星形胶质细胞的活化与胫骨癌痛的产生与维持有关.     

Histological findings in the rat prostate cancer model during treatment with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist and novantrone

Morphological changes produced by the treatment with the D-tryptophan-6 analog of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (D-Trp-6-LH-RH) and mitoxantrone (novantrone) were studied in the Dunning R3327H rat prostate cancer model. Microcapsules of D-Trp-6-LH-RH, calculated to release a controlled dose of 25 micrograms/day, were injected intramuscularly once a month. Novantrone (0.25 mg/kg body weight) was injected intravenously once every 3 weeks. The pathology of tumors was studied in two experiments. In the first experiment, the treatment was started 135 days after tumor transplantation, and the therapy was continued for 105 days. In the second experiment, the treatment was initiated 45 days after tumor transplantation, and was carried on for 70 days. The rats were divided into four groups: 1) untreated control, 2) microcapsule-injected, 3) novantrone-injected, and 4) combination of microcapsules and novantrone-injected. In both experiments, similar results were obtained, which included significant reduction in the tumor volume and weight, a very striking decrease in the number of epithelial tumoral cells with atrophy of the glandular epithelium, and an increase in the stromal connective tissue. All these changes were more prominent in the group treated with the combination of microcapsules and novantrone than in the groups treated with microcapsules or novantrone alone. Pathological results support the view that combined therapy may be more efficacious than the treatment with single agents.     

Local manganese chloride treatment accelerates fracture healing in a rat model

This study investigated the effects of local delivery of manganese chloride (MnCl₂), an insulin‐mimetic compound, upon fracture healing using a rat femoral fracture model. Mechanical testing, histomorphometry, and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess early and late parameters of fracture healing. At 4 weeks post‐fracture, maximum torque to failure was 70% higher (P < 0.05) and maximum torsional rigidity increased 133% (P < 0.05) in animals treated with 0.125 mg/kg MnCl₂ compared to saline controls. Histological analysis of the fracture callus revealed percent new mineralized tissue was 17% higher (P < 0.05) at day 10. Immunohistochemical analysis of the 0.125 mg/kg MnCl₂ treated group, compared to saline controls, showed a 379% increase in the density of VEGF‐C+ cells. In addition, compared to saline controls, the 0.125 mg/kg MnCl₂ treated group showed a 233% and 150% increase in blood vessel density in the subperiosteal region at day 10 post‐fracture as assessed by detection of PECAM and smooth muscle α actin, respectively. The results suggest that local MnCl₂ treatment accelerates fracture healing by increasing mechanical parameters via a potential mechanism of amplified early angiogenesis leading to increased osteogenesis. Therefore, local administration of MnCl₂ is a potential therapeutic adjunct for fracture healing. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:122–130, 2015.