Hepatic arterial infusion of a replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus (dl1520): Phase II viral, immunologic, and clinical endpoints

Tony Reid, Eva Galanis, James Abbruzzese, Dan Sze, Lawrence M. Wein, James Andrews, Britta Randlev, Carla Heise, Margaret Uprichard, Michael Hatfield, Larry Rome, Joseph Rubin, David Kirn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

280 Scopus citations

Abstract

Replication-selective oncolytic adenoviruses are being developed for the treatment of cancer, but the safety and feasibility of repeated adenovirus delivery to tumors via the bloodstream was unknown, particularly in light of a patient death after hepatic artery infusion of a replication-defective adenovirus vector. We performed a Phase II trial of an oncolytic replication-selective adenovirus (dl1520, also known as Onyx-015) administered by hepatic artery infusion in patients with gastrointestinal carcinoma metastatic to the liver (n = 27). dl1520 was infused into the hepatic artery (2 × 1012 particles) on days 1 and 8 as a single agent, and thereafter starting on day 22 in combination with i.v. 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin every 28 days. Repeated viral infusions were feasible, and no deaths occurred on study; reversible grade 3/4 hyperbilirubinemia occurred in 2 patients. Systemic inflammatory cytokine responses varied greatly between patients and even between cycles within a given patient. Proinflammatory cytokines [e.g., tumor necrosis factor, IFN-γ, and interleukin (IL) 6] typically rose within 3 h and were followed at 18 h by a rise in IL-10. However, in the single patient who suffered a severe but reversible systemic inflammatory response, a unique cytokine profile was detected: marked acute increases of IL-6 (20-fold higher than average for all of the patients) and inhibition of IL-10 production. Delayed secondary peaks of viremia were reproducibly detected 3-6 days after treatment, even in the presence of high level neutralizing antibody titers and antiviral cytokines. Mathematical modeling was used to calculate the number of virus particles produced and shed into the blood with each replication cycle. The combination of virotherapy and chemotherapy had antitumoral activity in some chemotherapy-resistant colorectal tumors. The intra-arterial infusion of oncolytic adenoviruses warrants additional study.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)6070-6079
Number of pages10
JournalCancer research
Volume62
Issue number21
StatePublished - 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hepatic arterial infusion of a replication-selective oncolytic adenovirus (dl1520): Phase II viral, immunologic, and clinical endpoints'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this