A newly discovered picornavirus has been shown to have potential as a potent cytolytic agent in cell lines with neuroendocrine properties, including small-cell lung cancer and retinoblastoma, according to a report published in the Nov. 7 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
P. Seshidhar Reddy, of Neotropix Inc., in Malvern, Pa., and colleagues tested the oncolytic efficacy of the virus, Seneca Valley Virus-001 (SVV-001), in tumor and normal cell lines using in vitro cytotoxicity assays. Blood inactivation assays were conducted to assess suitability of the virus for intravenous delivery. In vivo assessment of intravenous-delivered SVV-011 was tested on immune-competent A/J mice and athymic mice bearing pre-established tumors.
A variety of tumor cell lines with neuroendocrine properties were sensitive to SVV-001, with small-cell lung cancers and solid pediatric cancers demonstrating a sensitivity at least 10,000 times that of the adult normal human cells tested. No deleterious effect on normal cells was observed. Hemagglutination, whole-blood inactivation, and neutralization assays show no evidence of virus inactivation in the blood. No dose-limiting toxicity was observed in the immune-competent mice, and injections of SVV-001 resulted in eradication of all small-cell lung cancer tumors and a majority of retinoblastoma tumors in the athymic mice.
"These attributes lend promise of this agent for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer and other cancers with neuroendocrine properties," the authors conclude.
Reddy and several co-authors of this study work for and have a financial interest in Neotropix, Inc., which seeks to develop SVV-001 as a treatment for cancer.AbstractFull Text
Prepared jointly by the editors of RN and HealthDay's Physicians' Briefing (www.physiciansbriefing.com).
