Image-guided radiovirotherapy for multiple myeloma using a recombinant measles virus expressing the thyroidal sodium iodide symporter

Blood. 2004 Mar 1;103(5):1641-6. doi: 10.1182/blood-2003-07-2233. Epub 2003 Nov 6.

Abstract

The Edmonston vaccine strain of measles virus (MV-Edm) propagates efficiently in a broad range of human tumor cells, killing them selectively. However, the oncolytic potency of MV-Edm in different human tumor xenograft therapy models is highly variable and there is no convenient way to map the distribution of virus-infected tissues in vivo. To enhance the oncolytic potency of MV-Edm against radiosensitive malignancies and to facilitate noninvasive imaging of infected tissues, we generated a recombinant MV-Edm encoding the human thyroidal iodide symporter (NIS). MV-NIS replicated almost as efficiently as unmodified MV-Edm, and human tumor cells efficiently concentrated radioiodine when infected with MV-NIS. Intratumoral spread of MV-NIS was noninvasively demonstrated by serial gamma-camera imaging of iodine-123 (123I) uptake both in MV-sensitive KAS-6/1 myeloma xenografts, which regressed completely after a single intravenous dose of MV-NIS, and in MM1 myeloma xenografts, which were unresponsive to MVNIS therapy. However, MV-resistant MM1 tumors regressed completely when 131I was administered 9 days after a single intravenous injection of MV-NIS (radiovirotherapy). 131I alone had no effect on MM1 tumor growth. While the potential hematopoietic toxicity of this new therapy requires further evaluation, image-guided radiovirotherapy is a promising new approach to the treatment of multiple myeloma, an incurable but highly radiosensitive plasma cell malignancy. Testing in other radiosensitive cancers is warranted.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • Combined Modality Therapy*
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Female
  • Genetic Techniques
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
  • Measles virus / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Multiple Myeloma / therapy*
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Symporters / genetics*
  • Thyroid Gland / metabolism*
  • Time Factors
  • Vero Cells
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Interleukin-6
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Symporters
  • sodium-iodide symporter