Systemic therapy of disseminated myeloma in passively immunized mice using measles virus-infected cell carriers

Chunsheng Liu1, Stephen J Russell, Kah-Whye Peng

  • 1Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.

Insights

Myeloma cells can carry oncolytic measles virus (MV-NIS) to tumors, improving survival even in mice with existing measles antibodies. This cell-based delivery overcomes rapid viral neutralization in immune patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncolytic virology
  • Cancer biology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Multiple myeloma (MM) is a bone marrow malignancy.
  • Intravenous oncolytic measles virus (MV-NIS) therapy for MM faces challenges due to rapid neutralization by antiviral antibodies.
  • Myeloma cell lines exhibit bone marrow tropism, suggesting potential as delivery vehicles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential of myeloma cell lines as carriers for delivering oncolytic measles virus (MV-NIS) to myeloma deposits.
  • To evaluate the efficacy of cell-delivered MV-NIS in overcoming pre-existing measles immunity in a mouse model of disseminated multiple myeloma.

Main Methods:

  • Established a disseminated human myeloma (KAS 6/1) mouse model.
  • Determined the biodistribution of infused myeloma cell line (MM1) in tumor-bearing mice.
  • Assessed the ability of lethally irradiated MM1 cells to transfer MV to myeloma cells in the presence of measles immune serum.
  • Compared the antitumor activity and survival outcomes of systemically administered MV-NIS versus MV-NIS-infected MM1 cell carriers in measles-naive and measles-immune mice.

Main Results:

  • MM1 cells selectively homed to bone marrow sites including the spine, femurs, and mandibles.
  • Lethally irradiated MM1 cells successfully transferred MV to myeloma targets and were effective in the presence of measles immune serum.
  • Direct intravenous administration of MV-NIS showed antitumor activity only in measles-naive mice.
  • MV-NIS-infected MM1 cell carriers significantly extended survival in both measles-naive and measles-immune mice.

Conclusions:

  • Systemically administered myeloma cells can effectively serve as carriers for oncolytic measles virus (MV-NIS).
  • This cell-based delivery strategy prolongs survival in mice with multiple myeloma, even in the presence of pre-existing anti-measles antibodies.
  • Myeloma cell carriers represent a promising approach to overcome the limitations of direct viral immunotherapy in immune patients.

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