Characterization of Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Harboring the Human IFNB1 and CES2 Transgenes

The purpose of this study was to assess characteristics of SJ-815, a novel oncolytic vaccinia virus lacking a functional thymidine kinase-encoding TK gene, and instead, having two human transgenes: the IFNB1 that encodes interferon β1, and the CES2 that encodes carboxylesterase 2, which metabolizes the prodrug, irinotecan, into cytotoxic SN-38.

Viral replication and dissemination of SJ-815 were measured by plaque assay and comet assay, respectively, and compared to the backbone of SJ-815, a modified Western Reserve virus named WI. Tumor cytotoxicity of SJ-815 (or mSJ-815, which has the murine IFNB1 transgene for mouse cancers) was evaluated using human and mouse cancer cells. Antitumor effects of SJ-815, with/without irinotecan, were evaluated using a human pancreatic cancer-bearing mouse model and a syngeneic melanoma-bearing mouse model. The SN-38/ irinotecan ratios in mouse melanoma tissue 4 days post irinotecan treatment were compared between groups with and without SJ-815 intravenous injection.

SJ-815 demonstrated significantly lower viral replication and dissemination, but considerably stronger in vitro tumor cytotoxicity than WI. The combination use of SJ-815 plus irinotecan generated substantial tumor regression in the human pancreatic cancer model, and significantly prolonged survival in the melanoma model (hazard ratio, 0.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.02 to 0.50; p=0.013). The tumor SN-38/irinotecan ratios were over 3-fold higher in the group with SJ-815 than those without (p < 0.001).

SJ-815 demonstrates distinct characteristics gained from the inserted IFNB1 and CES2 transgenes. The potent antitumor effects of SJ-815, particularly when combined with irinotecan, against multiple solid tumors make SJ-815 an attractive candidate for further preclinical and clinical studies.