Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 3, 2026
A Melanoma Patient-Derived Xenograft Model
Published on: May 20, 2019
Sensitivity of Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines to Newcastle Disease Virus
Marianna Pap1, Judit Bátor1, József Szeberényi2
1Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs Medical School, Pécs, Hungary Signal Transduction Research Group, János Szentágothai Research Centre, Pécs, Hungary.
Background/Aim:
Virotherapy may be a promising alternative to chemotherapy of malignant melanoma. In clinical trials using strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), only a fraction of patients with cancer responded to virotherapy. In the present study, we tried to find a correlation between the susceptibility of human melanoma cell lines to NDV and growth factor signaling pathways.
Materials And Methods:
Using an ATP assay, cytotoxicity of an NDV strain (MTH-68/H) was tested in 13 human melanoma cell lines. The activation state of growth factor signaling pathways was studied by the analysis of key signaling proteins.
Results:
MTH-68/H was found to be cytotoxic in all melanoma cells tested, but the IC50 values varied significantly. No correlation between the IC50 values and the rate of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and AKT phosphorylation and phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) expression was found.
Conclusion:
Susceptibility of tumor cells to NDV may be affected by alterations other than those of RAS/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling in uninfected cells.
Insights
Newcastle disease virus (NDV) shows cytotoxicity against melanoma cells, but patient response varies. This study found no link between NDV susceptibility and common growth factor pathways, suggesting other factors influence treatment effectiveness.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Virotherapy using Newcastle disease virus (NDV) shows promise for malignant melanoma treatment.
- Clinical responses to NDV virotherapy in cancer patients are inconsistent, with only a fraction responding.
- Understanding factors influencing melanoma cell susceptibility to NDV is crucial for improving treatment efficacy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between human melanoma cell line susceptibility to NDV and growth factor signaling pathways.
- To determine if specific signaling pathways impact the effectiveness of NDV-based virotherapy.
Main Methods:
- Cytotoxicity of the NDV strain MTH-68/H was assessed in 13 human melanoma cell lines using an ATP assay.
- Key signaling proteins involved in growth factor pathways, including ERK, AKT, and PTEN, were analyzed to determine their activation state.
Main Results:
- The NDV strain MTH-68/H exhibited cytotoxicity across all tested melanoma cell lines.
- Significant variations in IC50 values (half-maximal inhibitory concentration) were observed among the cell lines.
- No correlation was found between IC50 values and the phosphorylation levels of ERK and AKT, nor with PTEN expression.
Conclusions:
- Melanoma cell susceptibility to NDV may be influenced by signaling pathways beyond RAS/ERK and PI3K/AKT in uninfected cells.
- The findings suggest that alternative molecular mechanisms might govern the response to NDV virotherapy.
- Further research is needed to identify other factors affecting NDV efficacy in melanoma treatment.
