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Blockade of transforming growth factor‐β signaling enhances oncolytic herpes simplex virus efficacy in patient‐derived recurrent glioblastoma models
Author(s) -
Esaki Shinichi,
Nigim Fares,
Moon Esther,
Luk Samantha,
Kiyokawa Juri,
Curry William,
Cahill Daniel P.,
Chi Andrew S.,
Iafrate A. John,
Martuza Robert L.,
Rabkin Samuel D.,
Wakimoto Hiroaki
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.30929
Subject(s) - oncolytic virus , temozolomide , cancer research , medicine , clonogenic assay , blockade , stem cell , herpes simplex virus , immunology , biology , glioblastoma , receptor , in vivo , virus , genetics , tumor cells , microbiology and biotechnology
Despite the current standard of multimodal management, glioblastoma (GBM) inevitably recurs and effective therapy is not available for recurrent disease. A subset of tumor cells with stem‐like properties, termed GBM stem‐like cells (GSCs), are considered to play a role in tumor relapse. Although oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) is a promising therapeutic for GBM, its efficacy against recurrent GBM is incompletely characterized. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) plays vital roles in maintaining GSC stemness and GBM pathogenesis. We hypothesized that oHSV and TGF‐β inhibitors would synergistically exert antitumor effects for recurrent GBM. Here we established a panel of patient‐derived recurrent tumor models from GBMs that relapsed after postsurgical radiation and chemotherapy, based on GSC‐enriched tumor sphere cultures. These GSCs are resistant to the standard‐of‐care temozolomide but susceptible to oHSVs G47Δ and MG18L. Inhibition of TGF‐β receptor kinase with selective targeted small molecules reduced clonogenic sphere formation in all tested recurrent GSCs. The combination of oHSV and TGF‐βR inhibitor was synergistic in killing recurrent GSCs through, in part, an inhibitor‐induced JNK‐MAPK blockade and increase in oHSV replication. In vivo , systemic treatment with TGF‐βR inhibitor greatly enhanced the antitumor effects of single intratumoral oHSV injections, resulting in cures in 60% of mice bearing orthotopic recurrent GBM. These results reveal a novel synergistic interaction of oHSV therapy and TGF‐β signaling blockade, and warrant further investigations aimed at clinical translation of this combination strategy for GBM patients.