P53-Armed Oncolytic Virotherapy Promotes the Efficacy of PD1 Blockade in Murine Osteosarcoma Tumors

Miho Kure1, Hiroshi Tazawa2,3, Koji Demiya1

  • 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan.

Anticancer Research
|December 30, 2025
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

P53-armed oncolytic adenovirus (OBP-702) enhances programmed cell death 1 (PD1) blockade efficacy against invasive osteosarcoma (OS). This combination therapy shows promise for improving antitumor immune responses in OS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Osteosarcoma (OS) is often resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors like PD1/PD-L1 blockade due to a weak immune response.
  • Oncolytic adenoviruses, including P53-armed OBP-702, demonstrate antitumor activity and can induce immunogenic cell death in OS cells.
  • P53-armed OBP-702 shows greater immunogenic cell death induction than non-armed OBP-301 in OS models.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the combined efficacy of P53-armed OBP-702 and PD1 blockade against murine osteosarcoma.
  • To assess the impact of this combination therapy on tumor growth and immune response in an orthotopic OS model.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed cytopathic effects and immunogenic cell death induction (ATP, HMGB1 release) of OBP-301 and OBP-702 in murine OS cell lines (K7M2, NHOS, NHOS-LM4).
  • Analyzed PD-L1/PD-L2 expression via flow cytometry and evaluated migratory/invasive potential of NHOS-LM4 cells.
  • Tested the antitumor efficacy of combination therapy (OBP-702 + anti-PD1) in an orthotopic NHOS-LM4 tumor model.

Main Results:

  • P53-armed OBP-702 induced immunogenic cell death, apoptosis, autophagy, and upregulated PD-L1/2 in K7M2 and NHOS cells.
  • NHOS-LM4 cells exhibited increased malignancy, but OBP-702 suppressed their invasive potential.
  • Combination therapy significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of PD1 blockade in the NHOS-LM4 tumor model.

Conclusions:

  • P53-armed OBP-702 demonstrates potential as an agent to augment PD1 blockade therapy for invasive osteosarcoma.
  • The combination approach shows promise for overcoming resistance to PD1 blockade in OS treatment.

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