Adenoviral Vector with Tumor-Selective Expression

Background: Viral vectors have been configured as therapeutic vehicles in a number of ways and human adenovirus were amongst the first to be modified for the treatment of cancer. Although no adeno-based therapeutic has made it through human clinical trials, the features of the virus continue to hold promise.

Technology Description: UC San Diego researchers have developed a modified human adenoviral vector that appears to be selectively expressed in a number of tumor cell lines. Work is in progress to find ways to optimize the oncolytic activity of a modified virus by “tuning” (genetically engineering) expression in specific types of tumor vs. normal tissue. Preliminary experiments also indicate a good safety profile.

Advantages:

  • Significant clinical experience with human adenoviral vectors (see Galanis link below).
  • In vitro studies suggest efficacy at doses demonstrated to be safe in human clinical trials.
  • Does not require proprietary, heterologous, tissue-specific regulatory sequences.

State of Development: A patent is pending.

Related Materials:
http://cancer.ucsd.edu/aboutus/news/stories/Reid_Nature.asp
Galanis E. et. al. Gene Ther 2005; 12(5): 437-445.

Keywords: oncolysis, oncolytic, adenovirus, Ad5, hAd, cancer, therapeutic, gene therapy, virus, biologic, gene therapy, tumour

Case Number: SD2009-232

Inquiries To: invent@ucsd.edu