118 research outputs found
Automating Wood Species Detection and Classification in Microscopic Images of Fibrous Materials with Deep Learning
We have developed a methodology for the systematic generation of a large
image dataset of macerated wood references, which we used to generate image
data for nine hardwood genera. This is the basis for a substantial approach to
automate, for the first time, the identification of hardwood species in
microscopic images of fibrous materials by deep learning. Our methodology
includes a flexible pipeline for easy annotation of vessel elements. We compare
the performance of different neural network architectures and hyperparameters.
Our proposed method performs similarly well to human experts. In the future,
this will improve controls on global wood fiber product flows to protect
forests
In Vitro Multitissue Interface Model Supports Rapid Vasculogenesis and Mechanistic Study of Vascularization across Tissue Compartments
A significant challenge facing tissue engineers is the design and development of complex multitissue systems, including vascularized tissue-tissue interfaces. While conventional in vitro models focus on either vasculogenesis (de novo formation of blood vessels) or angiogenesis (vessels sprouting from existing vessels or endothelial monolayers), successful therapeutic vascularization strategies will likely rely on coordinated integration of both processes. To address this challenge, we developed a novel in vitro multitissue interface model in which human endothelial colony forming cell (ECFC)-encapsulated tissue spheres are embedded within a surrounding tissue microenvironment. This highly reproducible approach exploits biphilic surfaces (nanostructured surfaces with distinct superhydrophobic and hydrophilic regions) to (i) support tissue compartments with user-specified matrix composition and physical properties as well as cell type and density and (ii) introduce boundary conditions that prevent the cell-mediated tissue contraction routinely observed with conventional three-dimensional monodispersion cultures. This multitissue interface model was applied to test the hypothesis that independent control of cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell interactions would affect vascularization within the tissue sphere as well as across the tissue-tissue interface. We found that high-cell-density tissue spheres containing 5 Ă 10(6) ECFCs/mL exhibit rapid and robust vasculogenesis, forming highly interconnected, stable (as indicated by type IV collagen deposition) vessel networks within only 3 days. Addition of adipose-derived stromal cells (ASCs) in the surrounding tissue further enhanced vasculogenesis within the sphere as well as angiogenic vessel elongation across the tissue-tissue boundary, with both effects being dependent on the ASC density. Overall, results show that the ECFC density and ECFC-ASC crosstalk, in terms of paracrine and mechanophysical signaling, are critical determinants of vascularization within a given tissue compartment and across tissue interfaces. This new in vitro multitissue interface model and the associated mechanistic insights it yields provide guiding principles for the design and optimization of multitissue vascularization strategies for research and clinical applications
Regression of Human Prostate Tumors and Metastases in Nude Mice following Treatment with the Recombinant Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus GLV-1h68
Virotherapy using oncolytic vaccinia virus strains is one of the most promising new strategies for cancer therapy. In the current study, we analyzed the therapeutic efficacy of the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 against two human prostate cancer cell lines DU-145 and PC-3 in cell culture and in tumor xenograft models. By viral proliferation assays and cell survival tests, we demonstrated that GLV-1h68 was able to infect, replicate in, and lyse these prostate cancer cells in culture. In DU-145 and PC-3 tumor xenograft models, a single intravenous injection with GLV-1h68 resulted in a significant reduction of primary tumor size. In addition, the GLV-1h68-infection led to strong inflammatory and oncolytic effects resulting in drastic reduction of regional lymph nodes with PC-3 metastases. Our data documented that the GLV-1h68 virus has a great potential for treatment of human prostate carcinoma
Antiplatelet agents for the treatment of adults with COVID-19
Background
Severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVIDâ19) can cause thrombotic events that lead to severe complications or death. Antiplatelet agents, such as acetylsalicylic acid, have been shown to effectively reduce thrombotic events in other diseases: they could influence the course of COVIDâ19 in general.
Objectives
To assess the efficacy and safety of antiplatelets given with standard care compared to no treatment or standard care (with/without placebo) for adults with COVIDâ19.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane COVIDâ19 Study Register (which comprises MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase, ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP, medRxiv, CENTRAL), Web of Science, WHO COVIDâ19 Global literature on coronavirus disease and the Epistemonikos COVIDâ19 L*OVE Platform to identify completed and ongoing studies without language restrictions to December 2022.
Selection criteria
We followed standard Cochrane methodology. We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating antiplatelet agents for the treatment of COVIDâ19 in adults with COVIDâ19, irrespective of disease severity, gender or ethnicity.
Data collection and analysis
We followed standard Cochrane methodology.
To assess bias in included studies, we used the Cochrane risk of bias tool (RoB 2) for RCTs. We rated the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach for the outcomes.
Main results
Antiplatelets plus standard care versus standard care (with/without placebo)
Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of moderate to severe COVIDâ19
We included four studies (17,541 participants) that recruited hospitalised people with a confirmed diagnosis of moderate to severe COVIDâ19. A total of 8964 participants were analysed in the antiplatelet arm (either with cyclooxygenase inhibitors or P2Y12 inhibitors) and 8577 participants in the control arm. Most people were older than 50 years and had comorbidities such as hypertension, lung disease or diabetes. The studies were conducted in highâ to lower middleâincome countries prior to wideâscale vaccination programmes.
Antiplatelets compared to standard care:
â probably result in little to no difference in 28âday mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.85 to 1.05; 3 studies, 17,249 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence). In absolute terms, this means that for every 177 deaths per 1000 people not receiving antiplatelets, there were 168 deaths per 1000 people who did receive the intervention (95% CI 151 to 186 per 1000 people);
â probably result in little to no difference in worsening (new need for invasive mechanical ventilation or death up to day 28) (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.01; 2 studies, 15,266 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence);
â probably result in little to no difference in improvement (participants discharged alive up to day 28) (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.04; 2 studies, 15,454 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence);
â probably result in a slight reduction of thrombotic events at longest followâup (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80 to 1.02; 4 studies, 17,518 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence);
â may result in a slight increase in serious adverse events at longest followâup (Peto odds ratio (OR) 1.57, 95% CI 0.48 to 5.14; 1 study, 1815 participants; lowâcertainty evidence), but nonâserious adverse events during study treatment were not reported;
â probably increase the occurrence of major bleeding events at longest followâup (Peto OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.29 to 2.19; 4 studies, 17,527 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence).
Adults with a confirmed diagnosis of asymptomatic SARSâCoVâ2 infection or mild COVIDâ19
We included two RCTs allocating participants, of whom 4209 had confirmed mild COVIDâ19 and were not hospitalised. A total of 2109 participants were analysed in the antiplatelet arm (treated with acetylsalicylic acid) and 2100 participants in the control arm. No study included people with asymptomatic SARSâCoVâ2 infection.
Antiplatelets compared to standard care:
â may result in little to no difference in allâcause mortality at day 45 (Peto OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.45 to 2.22; 2 studies, 4209 participants; lowâcertainty evidence);
â may slightly decrease the incidence of new thrombotic events up to day 45 (Peto OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.09 to 1.46; 2 studies, 4209 participants; lowâcertainty evidence);
â may make little or no difference to the incidence of serious adverse events up to day 45 (Peto OR 1.00, 95% CI 0.60 to 1.64; 1 study, 3881 participants; lowâcertainty evidence), but nonâserious adverse events were not reported.
The evidence is very uncertain about the effect of antiplatelets on the following outcomes (compared to standard care plus placebo):
â admission to hospital or death up to day 45 (Peto OR 0.79, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.10; 2 studies, 4209 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence);
â major bleeding events up to longest followâup (no event occurred in 328 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence).
Quality of life and adverse events during study treatment were not reported.
Authors' conclusions
In people with confirmed or suspected COVIDâ19 and moderate to severe disease, we found moderateâcertainty evidence that antiplatelets probably result in little to no difference in 28âday mortality, clinical worsening or improvement, but probably result in a slight reduction in thrombotic events. They probably increase the occurrence of major bleeding events. Lowâcertainty evidence suggests that antiplatelets may result in a slight increase in serious adverse events.
In people with confirmed COVIDâ19 and mild symptoms, we found lowâcertainty evidence that antiplatelets may result in little to no difference in 45âday mortality and serious adverse events, and may slightly reduce thrombotic events. The effects on the combined outcome admission to hospital or death up to day 45 and major bleeding events are very uncertain. Quality of life was not reported.
Included studies were conducted in highâ to lower middleâincome settings using antiplatelets prior to vaccination rollâouts.
We identified a lack of evidence concerning quality of life assessments, adverse events and people with asymptomatic infection. The 14 ongoing and three completed, unpublished RCTs that we identified in trial registries address similar settings and research questions as in the current body of evidence. We expect to incorporate the findings of these studies in future versions of this review
Functional hyper-IL-6 from vaccinia virus-colonized tumors triggers platelet formation and helps to alleviate toxicity of mitomycin C enhanced virus therapy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Combination of oncolytic vaccinia virus therapy with conventional chemotherapy has shown promise for tumor therapy. However, side effects of chemotherapy including thrombocytopenia, still remain problematic.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Here, we describe a novel approach to optimize combination therapy of oncolytic virus and chemotherapy utilizing virus-encoding hyper-IL-6, GLV-1h90, to reduce chemotherapy-associated side effects.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We showed that the hyper-IL-6 cytokine was successfully produced by GLV-1h90 and was functional both in cell culture as well as in tumor-bearing animals, in which the cytokine-producing vaccinia virus strain was well tolerated. When combined with the chemotherapeutic mitomycin C, the anti-tumor effect of the oncolytic virotherapy was significantly enhanced. Moreover, hyper-IL-6 expression greatly reduced the time interval during which the mice suffered from chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Therefore, future clinical application would benefit from careful investigation of additional cytokine treatment to reduce chemotherapy-induced side effects.</p
Ivermectin for preventing and treating COVIDâ19
Background
Ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent used to treat parasitic infestations, inhibits the replication of viruses in vitro. The molecular hypothesis of ivermectin's antiviral mode of action suggests an inhibitory effect on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSâCoVâ2) replication in the early stages of infection. Currently, evidence on efficacy and safety of ivermectin for prevention of SARSâCoVâ2 infection and COVIDâ19 treatment is conflicting.
Objectives
To assess the efficacy and safety of ivermectin compared to no treatment, standard of care, placebo, or any other proven intervention for people with COVIDâ19 receiving treatment as inpatients or outpatients, and for prevention of an infection with SARSâCoVâ2 (postexposure prophylaxis).
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane COVIDâ19 Study Register, Web of Science (Emerging Citation Index and Science Citation Index), medRxiv, and Research Square, identifying completed and ongoing studies without language restrictions to 26 May 2021.
Selection criteria
We included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ivermectin to no treatment, standard of care, placebo, or another proven intervention for treatment of people with confirmed COVIDâ19 diagnosis, irrespective of disease severity, treated in inpatient or outpatient settings, and for prevention of SARSâCoVâ2 infection.
Coâinterventions had to be the same in both study arms.
We excluded studies comparing ivermectin to other pharmacological interventions with unproven efficacy.
Data collection and analysis
We assessed RCTs for bias, using the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. The primary analysis excluded studies with high risk of bias. We used GRADE to rate the certainty of evidence for the following outcomes 1. to treat inpatients with moderateâtoâsevere COVIDâ19: mortality, clinical worsening or improvement, adverse events, quality of life, duration of hospitalization, and viral clearance; 2. to treat outpatients with mild COVIDâ19: mortality, clinical worsening or improvement, admission to hospital, adverse events, quality of life, and viral clearance; (3) to prevent SARSâCoVâ2 infection: SARSâCoVâ2 infection, development of COVIDâ19 symptoms, adverse events, mortality, admission to hospital, and quality of life.
Main results
We found 14 studies with 1678 participants investigating ivermectin compared to no treatment, placebo, or standard of care. No study compared ivermectin to an intervention with proven efficacy. There were nine studies treating participants with moderate COVIDâ19 in inpatient settings and four treating mild COVIDâ19 cases in outpatient settings. One study investigated ivermectin for prevention of SARSâCoVâ2 infection. Eight studies had an openâlabel design, six were doubleâblind and placeboâcontrolled. Of the 41 study results contributed by included studies, about one third were at overall high risk of bias.
Ivermectin doses and treatment duration varied among included studies.
We identified 31 ongoing and 18 studies awaiting classification until publication of results or clarification of inconsistencies.
Ivermectin compared to placebo or standard of care for inpatient COVIDâ19 treatment
We are uncertain whether ivermectin compared to placebo or standard of care reduces or increases mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 2.51; 2 studies, 185 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence) and clinical worsening up to day 28 assessed as need for invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.11 to 2.59; 2 studies, 185 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence) or need for supplemental oxygen (0 participants required supplemental oxygen; 1 study, 45 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence), adverse events within 28 days (RR 1.21, 95% CI 0.50 to 2.97; 1 study, 152 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence), and viral clearance at day seven (RR 1.82, 95% CI 0.51 to 6.48; 2 studies, 159 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence). Ivermectin may have little or no effect compared to placebo or standard of care on clinical improvement up to 28 days (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.35; 1 study; 73 participants; lowâcertainty evidence) and duration of hospitalization (mean difference (MD) â0.10 days, 95% CI â2.43 to 2.23; 1 study; 45 participants; lowâcertainty evidence). No study reported quality of life up to 28 days.
Ivermectin compared to placebo or standard of care for outpatient COVIDâ19 treatment
We are uncertain whether ivermectin compared to placebo or standard of care reduces or increases mortality up to 28 days (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.01 to 8.05; 2 studies, 422 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence) and clinical worsening up to 14 days assessed as need for IMV (RR 2.97, 95% CI 0.12 to 72.47; 1 study, 398 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence) or nonâIMV or high flow oxygen requirement (0 participants required nonâIMV or high flow; 1 study, 398 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence). We are uncertain whether ivermectin compared to placebo reduces or increases viral clearance at seven days (RR 3.00, 95% CI 0.13 to 67.06; 1 study, 24 participants; lowâcertainty evidence). Ivermectin may have little or no effect compared to placebo or standard of care on the number of participants with symptoms resolved up to 14 days (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.21; 1 study, 398 participants; lowâcertainty evidence) and adverse events within 28 days (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.05; 2 studies, 422 participants; lowâcertainty evidence). None of the studies reporting duration of symptoms were eligible for primary analysis. No study reported hospital admission or quality of life up to 14 days.
Ivermectin compared to no treatment for prevention of SARSâCoVâ2 infection
We found one study. Mortality up to 28 days was the only outcome eligible for primary analysis. We are uncertain whether ivermectin reduces or increases mortality compared to no treatment (0 participants died; 1 study, 304 participants; very lowâcertainty evidence). The study reported results for development of COVIDâ19 symptoms and adverse events up to 14 days that were included in a secondary analysis due to high risk of bias. No study reported SARSâCoVâ2 infection, hospital admission, and quality of life up to 14 days.
Authors' conclusions
Based on the current very lowâ to lowâcertainty evidence, we are uncertain about the efficacy and safety of ivermectin used to treat or prevent COVIDâ19. The completed studies are small and few are considered high quality. Several studies are underway that may produce clearer answers in review updates. Overall, the reliable evidence available does not support the use ivermectin for treatment or prevention of COVIDâ19 outside of wellâdesigned randomized trials
Nirmatrelvir combined with ritonavir for preventing and treating COVIDâ19
Background
Oral nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (PaxlovidÂŽ) aims to avoid severe COVIDâ19 in asymptomatic people or those with mild symptoms, thereby decreasing hospitalization and death. Due to its novelty, there are currently few published study results. It remains to be evaluated for which indications and patient populations the drug is suitable.
Objectives
To assess the efficacy and safety of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (PaxlovidÂŽ) plus standard of care compared to standard of care with or without placebo, or any other intervention for treating COVIDâ19 and for preventing SARSâCoVâ2 infection.
To explore equity aspects in subgroup analyses.
To keep up to date with the evolving evidence base using a living systematic review (LSR) approach and make new relevant studies available to readers inâbetween publication of review updates.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane COVIDâ19 Study Register, Scopus, and WHO COVIDâ19 Global literature on coronavirus disease database, identifying completed and ongoing studies without language restrictions and incorporating studies up to 11 July 2022.
This is a LSR. We conduct monthly update searches that are being made publicly available on the open science framework (OSF) platform.
Selection criteria
Studies were eligible if they were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care with standard of care with or without placebo, or any other intervention for treatment of people with confirmed COVIDâ19 diagnosis, irrespective of disease severity or treatment setting, and for prevention of SARSâCoVâ2 infection.
We screened all studies for research integrity. Studies were ineligible if they had been retracted, or if they were not prospectively registered including appropriate ethics approval.
Data collection and analysis
We followed standard Cochrane methodology and used the Cochrane risk of bias 2 tool. We rated the certainty of evidence using the GRADE approach for the following outcomes: 1. to treat outpatients with mild COVIDâ19; 2. to treat inpatients with moderateâtoâsevere COVIDâ19: mortality, clinical worsening or improvement, quality of life, (serious) adverse events, and viral clearance; 3. to prevent SARSâCoVâ2 infection in postâexposure prophylaxis (PEP); and 4. preâexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) scenarios: SARSâCoVâ2 infection, development of COVIDâ19 symptoms, mortality, admission to hospital, quality of life, and (serious) adverse events.
We explored inequity by subgroup analysis for elderly people, sociallyâdisadvantaged people with comorbidities, populations from LICs and LMICs, and people from different ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Main results
As of 11 July 2022, we included one RCT with 2246 participants in outpatient settings with mild symptomatic COVIDâ19 comparing nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care with standard of care plus placebo. Trial participants were unvaccinated, without previous confirmed SARSâCoVâ2 infection, had a symptom onset of no more than five days before randomization, and were at high risk for progression to severe disease. Prohibited prior or concomitant therapies included medications highly dependent on CYP3A4 for clearance and CYP3A4 inducers.
We identified eight ongoing studies.
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for treating COVIDâ19 in outpatient settings with asymptomatic or mild disease
For the specific population of unvaccinated, highârisk patients nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care compared to standard of care plus placebo may reduce allâcause mortality at 28 days (risk ratio (RR) 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.00 to 0.68; 1 study, 2224 participants; estimated absolute effect: 11 deaths per 1000 people receiving placebo compared to 0 deaths per 1000 people receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir; lowâcertainty evidence, and admission to hospital or death within 28 days (RR 0.13, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.27; 1 study, 2224 participants; estimated absolute effect: 61 admissions or deaths per 1000 people receiving placebo compared to eight admissions or deaths per 1000 people receiving nirmatrelvir/ritonavir; lowâcertainty evidence).
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care may reduce serious adverse events during the study period compared to standard of care plus placebo (RR 0.24, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.41; 1 study, 2224 participants; lowâcertainty evidence). Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care probably has little or no effect on treatmentâemergent adverse events (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.82 to 1.10; 1 study, 2224 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence), and probably increases treatmentârelated adverse events such as dysgeusia and diarrhoea during the study period compared to standard of care plus placebo (RR 2.06, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.95; 1 study, 2224 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence). Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir plus standard of care probably decreases discontinuation of study drug due to adverse events compared to standard of care plus placebo (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.80; 1 study, 2224 participants; moderateâcertainty evidence).
No study results were identified for improvement of clinical status, quality of life, and viral clearance.
Subgroup analyses for equity
Most study participants were younger than 65 years (87.1% of the : modified intention to treat (mITT1) population with 2085 participants), of white ethnicity (71.5%), and were from UMICs or HICs (92.1% of study centres). Data on comorbidities were insufficient.
The outcome âadmission to hospital or deathâ was investigated for equity: age (< 65 years versus ⼠65 years) and ethnicity (Asian versus Black versus White versus others). There was no difference between subgroups of age. The effects favoured treatment with nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for the White ethnic group. Estimated effects in the other ethnic groups included the line of no effect (RR = 1). No subgroups were reported for comorbidity status and World Bank country classification by income level. No subgroups were reported for other outcomes.
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for treating COVIDâ19 in inpatient settings with moderate to severe disease
No studies available.
Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for preventing SARSâCoVâ2 infection (PrEP and PEP)
No studies available.
Authors' conclusions
There is lowâcertainty evidence that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir reduces the risk of allâcause mortality and hospital admission or death based on one trial investigating unvaccinated COVIDâ19 participants without previous infection that were at high risk and with symptom onset of no more than five days. There is lowâ to moderateâcertainty evidence that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is safe in people without prior or concomitant therapies including medications highly dependent on CYP3A4.
Regarding equity aspects, except for ethnicity, no differences in effect size and direction were identified.
No evidence is available on nirmatrelvir/ritonavir to treat hospitalized people with COVIDâ19 and to prevent a SARSâCoVâ2 infection.
We will continually update our search and make search results available on OSF
Preclinical Evaluation of Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus for Therapy of Canine Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Virotherapy using oncolytic vaccinia virus (VACV) strains is one promising new strategy for canine cancer therapy. In this study we describe the establishment of an in vivo model of canine soft tissue sarcoma (CSTS) using the new isolated cell line STSA-1 and the analysis of the virus-mediated oncolytic and immunological effects of two different Lister VACV LIVP1.1.1 and GLV-1h68 strains against CSTS. Cell culture data demonstrated that both tested VACV strains efficiently infected and destroyed cells of the canine soft tissue sarcoma line STSA-1. In addition, in our new canine sarcoma tumor xenograft mouse model, systemic administration of LIVP1.1.1 or GLV-1h68 viruses led to significant inhibition of tumor growth compared to control mice. Furthermore, LIVP1.1.1 mediated therapy resulted in almost complete tumor regression and resulted in long-term survival of sarcoma-bearing mice. The replication of the tested VACV strains in tumor tissues led to strong oncolytic effects accompanied by an intense intratumoral infiltration of host immune cells, mainly neutrophils. These findings suggest that the direct viral oncolysis of tumor cells and the virus-dependent activation of tumor-associated host immune cells could be crucial parts of anti-tumor mechanism in STSA-1 xenografts. In summary, the data showed that both tested vaccinia virus strains and especially LIVP1.1.1 have great potential for effective treatment of CSTS
Efficient Colonization and Therapy of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) Using the Oncolytic Vaccinia Virus Strain GLV-1h68
Virotherapy using oncolytic vaccinia virus strains is one of the most promising new strategies for cancer therapy. In this study, we analyzed for the first time the therapeutic efficacy of the oncolytic vaccinia virus GLV-1h68 in two human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HuH7 and PLC/PRF/5 (PLC) in cell culture and in tumor xenograft models. By viral proliferation assays and cell survival tests, we demonstrated that GLV-1h68 efficiently colonized, replicated in, and did lyse these cancer cells in culture. Experiments with HuH7 and PLC xenografts have revealed that a single intravenous injection (i.v.) of mice with GLV-1h68 resulted in a significant reduction of primary tumor sizes compared to uninjected controls. In addition, replication of GLV-1h68 in tumor cells led to strong inflammatory and oncolytic effects resulting in intense infiltration of MHC class II-positive cells like neutrophils, macrophages, B cells and dendritic cells and in up-regulation of 13 pro-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, GLV-1h68 infection of PLC tumors inhibited the formation of hemorrhagic structures which occur naturally in PLC tumors. Interestingly, we found a strongly reduced vascular density in infected PLC tumors only, but not in the non-hemorrhagic HuH7 tumor model. These data demonstrate that the GLV-1h68 vaccinia virus may have an enormous potential for treatment of human hepatocellular carcinoma in man
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