Description:
Researchers from UTHealth have developed a novel oncolytic viral therapy, oHSV-shPKR, which can inhibit tumor cells’ antiviral PKR activity, and increase oncolytic virus infection and replication in both oncolytic viral-resistant and sensitive cancer cells. This novel oHSV-shPKR therapy can significantly increase the anti-tumor immune response against cancer and show a striking anti-tumor effect in vivo and has the potential to become the promising oncolytic viral therapy for cancer treatment.
Background
Oncolytic viruses (OVs), such as oHSV, are an emerging treatment strategy for Cancer. To increase the therapeutic potential of this application, efforts that can enhance the oncolytic potential of viruses resulting in a better antigen release can enhance therapy. The development of novel oHSV that can increase its replication in resistant tumors and induce strong anti-tumor immune response is in urgent need.
Discovery
Dr. Balveen Kaur and Dr. Bangxing Hong at UTHealth have developed a novel oncolytic viral therapy, oHSV-shPKR, for oncolytic viral resistant GBM treatment and antigen-specific T cell expansion. The novel oncolytic oHSV-shPKR, which disables tumor cells’ antiviral PKR activity, can significantly increase oncolytic virus replication in both oncolytic viral-resistant and sensitive GBM cells. Surprisingly this also induces anti tumor immunity, resulting in an anti tumor memory immune response. This novel oHSV-shPKR therapy is expected to show significant anti-tumor efficacy in future clinical trials and prolong the survival of GBM patients.
Benefits/Technology Advantages
- The novel oncolytic oHSV-shPKR targets tumor cells’ viral clearance mechanism to increase viral infection and replication in resistant GBM and induce cell cycle arrest and inhibit tumor cell growth
- The novel oncolytic oHSV-shPKR can induce tumor antigen-specific T cell expansion and can be used in combination with immune cell-based cell therapy to increase anti-tumor activity
Potential Applications
- Use as a novel oncolytic viral therapy for oncolytic viral resistant GBM treatment
- Development into improved cancer therapeutic strategies in combination with immune cell-based cell therapy, including CTL adoptive transfer, CAR-T, and TCR-T therapy
Intellectual Property Status
- US provisional patent application filed
- Available for licensing
Stage of Development
About the Inventors
- Dr. Balveen Kaur, Professor & John P. and Kathrine G. McGovern Distinguished Chair of the Department of Neurological Surgery at UTHealth; Dr. Kaur has an active research interest in translational therapeutics and is considered an expert in the field of oncolytic viral therapy.
- Dr. Bangxing Hong, Assistant Professor, Vivian L. Smith Department Of Neurosurgery, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth; Dr. Hong’s research interest is to develop novel oncolytic HSV for glioblastoma therapy and in combination with immunotherapy such as dendritic cell and T cell therapy.
UTHealth Ref. No.: 2022-0019