Substitution of Adenovirus Serotype 3 hexon onto a serotype 5 oncolytic adenovirus reduces factor X binding decreases liver tropism and improves anti-tumor efficacy

摘要

Following intravascular delivery, an important route of administration for many clinical applications, the liver is the predominant site of adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5) sequestration thereby posing a risk of toxicity. In this regard, it has recently been demonstrated that the Ad5 capsid binds to the blood coagulation factor X (FX) via the Ad5 hexon protein. This interaction mediates the majority of Ad5 liver transduction. Patient FX levels can be diminished by the administration of warfarin, a vitamin K inhibitor in the liver which decreases FX production; however, warfarin is a potent anticoagulant and can have a number of undesired side effects. Therefore, genetic modification of the virus to ablate FX binding is the preferred approach. Modifications of the hexon protein, specifically within the hypervariable 5 (HVR5) and 7 (HVR7) regions, have produced Ad5 vectors that show minimal liver sequestration. Our laboratory has pioneered adenovirus hexon modifications, including insertion of peptide ligands into the hypervariable regions and substitution of the adenovirus hexon with hexon proteins from alternate serotypes. Substitution of the adenovirus serotype 3 (Ad3) hexon protein onto the Ad5 capsid has been further characterized in regard to its interaction with FX and incorporated into an infectivity enhanced conditionally replicative adenovirus (CRAd). In vitro evaluation of these hexon modified vectors demonstrated decreased binding to FX and decreased cell transduction via FX mediated pathways. Furthermore, in vivo biodistribution studies in mice exhibited a decrease in liver sequestration. Utilizing xenograft tumor models, anti-tumor efficacy of the hexon-modified CRAds was enhanced over non-modified controls.