EXPRESSION OF NKG2D ACTIVATING LIGAND PROTEINS FOR SENSITIZING CANCER CELLS TO ATTACK BY CYTOTOXIC IMMUNE CELLS

摘要

Provided is a recombinant viral vector that expresses a NKG2D activating ligand, such as a UL-16 binding protein. When introduced into a cancer cell, the vector can cause expression of the NKG2D activating ligand, thereby overcoming repression of NK-mediated (or other effector cell, e.g., macrophage) cytotoxicity and causing effector cell-mediated death of the cancer cell. Expression of the NKG2D activating ligand can be controlled by a miRNA present in greater concentration in noncancerous cells than in cancer cells, which can permit selective expression of the ligand in cancer cells and reduced cytotoxicity toward noncancerous cells. The vector can cause expression of an oncolytic factor. When formulated into a pharmaceutical composition and administered to a patient, the vector can be used to treat cancer. The cancer can be a glioma, such as glioblastoma including one with an isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutation. The vector can be a herpes simplex virus vector, among others.