Oncolytic Measles Virus Tumor Cells with Targeted + Specific Elimination of CD 133 Updated

Tumor-initiating cells (TIC) are critical yet evasive targets for the development of more effective antitumoral strategies. The cell surface marker CD133 is frequently used to identify TICs of various tumor entities, including hepatocellular cancer and glioblastoma. Here, we describe oncolyticmeasles viruses (MV) retargeted to CD133. The viruses, termed MV-141.7 and MV-AC133, infected and selectively lysed CD133þ tumor cells. Both viruses exerted strong antitumoral effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma growing subcutaneously or multifocally in the peritoneal cavity of nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficient (NOD/SCID) mice. Notably, the CD133targeted virusesweremore effective in prolonging survival than the parentalMV-NSe, which is currently assessed as oncolytic agent in clinical trials. Interestingly, target receptor overexpression or increased spreading kinetics through tumor cells were excluded as being causative for the enhanced oncolytic activity of CD133-targeted viruses. MV-141.7 was also effective in mouse models of orthotopic glioma tumor spheres and primary colon cancer. Our results indicate that CD133-targetedmeasles viruses selectively eliminateCD133þ cells from tumor tissue, offering a key tool for research in tumor biology and cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 73(2); 1–10. 2013 AACR.