Table of Contents
Past and current projects
The research of our team is focused on the development of novel approaches for cancer treatment using oncolytic parvoviruses (PVs). We provided proof of principle that an organotropic cell-based carrier system is suitable to deliver and produce oncolytic H-1PV to a tissue known to be a target for the formation of metastases. Infected carriers were able to sustain H-1 virus expression for prolonged period of time in the lungs of rats affected by metastatic disease and to reduce the spreading of the virus to peripheral organs. Compared to direct virus injection, the carrier cell protocol led to an improved therapeutic effect (metastases suppression) and a lesser generation of virus-neutralizing antibodies. Currently our group is focused on the preclinical evaluation of oncolytic parvoviruses for the treatment of pancreatic cancer and lymphoma. We performed studies both in vitro and in animal models in rats and mice. Chemo- (gemcitabine) and immunotherapeutics (IFNgamma) were combined with oncolytic H-1PV to treat pancreatic cancer.Anticancer immunomodulation induced by parvoriruses is also part of the interests of our group. In this respect we discovered that (i) bystander activation of the immune system by H-1PV controls the growth of secondary tumors (metastases) and that (ii) abortive H-1PV infection leads to direct activation of human PBMCs.
Future projects
One of our future projects involves the preclinical testing of a replicating H-1PV virus enriched with pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as unmethylated CpG motifs. The virus was designed and produced in our team, and is currently being investigated for its immunological properties on in vitro models of the human immune system.Translational research is a major issue in our present and future activities. The group is currently designing the clinical protocol and is involved in the preparation of a Phase II clinical for the treatment of pancreatic carcinoma-bearing patients with H-1PV. Using SCID mice xenografted with human PDAC tumor materials we plan to analyze the effect of H-1PV as mono- or combined therapy.
