Mutants of vaccinia virus as oncolytic agents
First Claim
1. A method of inducing lysis of proliferating cancer cells comprising contacting said cells with a vaccinia virus having an inactivating mutation in an interferon resistance gene.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to mutant oncolytic vaccinia viruses and their use for selective destruction of cancer cells. The mutant vaccinia viruses of the invention include those having a reduced ability to inhibit the antiviral dsR-NA dependent protein kinase (PKR) and increased sensitivity to interferon. Such mutants include, for example, vaccinia viruses having mutations in the E3L and/or K3L regions. The invention is based on the discovery that vaccinia viruses having mutations in the E3L region are capable of replication in oncogenic cells resulting in cell lysis. The invention further provides methods for treating proliferative disorders, such as neoplasms, in a host comprising administration of mutant vaccinia virus under conditions which result in substantial lysis of the proliferating cancer cells.
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Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A method of inducing lysis of proliferating cancer cells comprising contacting said cells with a vaccinia virus having an inactivating mutation in an interferon resistance gene.
- 11. A therapeutic composition for use in targeted cell lysis of a proliferating cancer cell comprising a vaccinia virus having an inactivating mutation in an interferon resistance gene and a carrier.
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