Anti-neoplastic effect of avian reovirus σ C protein on Rous sarcoma virus-induced tumors in chicken

This study investigated the anti-neoplastic potential of avian reovirus σC (sigma C) protein on Rous sarcoma virus-induced fibrosarcoma in chicken. The recombinant vector expressing σC protein was injected intra-tumorally into specific pathogen free chicken with fibro-sarcoma at the dose 100µg per bird, while control birds were mock-treated with 100µg of empty vector per bird. Recombinant σC protein induced apoptosis in tumors of treated birds resulting in progressive tumor regression, while similar changes were absent in tumors of mock-treated controls. The σC protein-induced apoptosis in tumors was quantified by flow cytometry and the mean level of apoptosis up to 66% was observed in treated tumors, whereas any significant level of apoptosis was absent in mock-treated controls.