Human tumor growth is inhibited by a vaccinia virus carrying the E2 gene of bovine papillomavirus

BACKGROUND Papillomavirus is the etiologic agent associated with cervical carcinoma. The papilloma E2 protein is able to regulate negatively the expression of E6 and E7 papilloma oncoproteins. Therefore, a new, highly attenuated vaccinia virus known as modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA), which carries the papillomavirus E2 gene, was used for the treatment of tumors associated with human papillomavirus. METHODS Analysis of expression of the E2 gene from the recombinant vaccinia virus was performed by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction of RNA isolated from infected cells. Detection of the E2 protein was done by immunoprecipitation from proteins labeled with [ 35 S]‐methionine, isolated from infected cells. The therapeutic effect of the MVA E2 recombinant virus over human tumors was tested in nude mice bearing tumors generated by inoculation of HeLa cells. Series of 10 nude mice with tumors of different sizes were injected with MVA, MVA E2, or phosphate‐buffered saline. Tumor size was monitored every week to assess growth. RESULTS The MVA E2 recombinant virus efficiently expressed the E2 protein in BS‐C‐1 cells. This protein was able to repress, in vivo, the papillomavirus P105 promoter, which controls the expression of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins. In nude mice the MVA E2 virus reduced tumor growth very efficiently. In contrast, tumors continued to grow in mice treated with MVA or PBS. The life expectancy of MVA E2‐treated mice was also increased three‐ to fourfold compared with that of animals that received MVA or PBS. CONCLUSIONS The growth of human tumors was efficiently inhibited by the MVA E2 recombinant vaccinia virus. The absence of side effects in treated animals suggested that the MVA E2 virus is a safe biologic agent that could in the future be used in humans for the treatment of cervical carcinoma. Cancer 2000;88:1650–62. © 2000 American Cancer Society.