Experimental Therapy of Human Glioma by Means of a Genetically Engineered Virus Mutant

TLDR

Malignant gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors and are almost always fatal, prompting investigation of genetically engineered viruses such as dl sptk as novel antineoplastic agents. The study aimed to evaluate a thymidine kinase‑negative mutant of herpes simplex virus‑1 (dl sptk) as a potential glioma treatment. The attenuated dl sptk, lacking neurovirulence, was tested in vitro on human glioma cell lines and in vivo by intraneoplastic inoculation in nude mice bearing U87 gliomas. dl sptk killed two long‑term and three short‑term human glioma lines in culture,.

Abstract

Malignant gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors and are almost always fatal. A thymidine kinase-negative mutant of herpes simplex virus-1 ( dl sptk) that is attenuated for neurovirulence was tested as a possible treatment for gliomas. In cell culture, dl sptk killed two long-term human glioma lines and three short-term human glioma cell populations. In nude mice with implanted subcutaneous and subrenal U87 human gliomas, intraneoplastic inoculation of dl sptk caused growth inhibition. In nude mice with intracranial U87 gliomas, intraneoplastic inoculation of dl sptk prolonged survival. Genetically engineered viruses such as dl sptk merit further evaluation as novel antineoplastic agents.