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Posted on Monday, Jan 16, 2012

Penn Researchers Report Use of Cold Virus in Fight Against Mesothelioma

Researchers at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania report promising results in a small clinical trial used to assess whether a variation of the modified cold virus may benefit patients with malignant mesothelioma. 

In the study led by Steven M. Albelda, MD, William Maul Measey Professor of Medicine, and vice chief, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division at Penn, “evidence of disease stability or tumor regression was observed” in over half of the patients, with one patient experiencing partial tumor regression. 

Mesothelioma is an incurable, asbestos-caused cancer with few treatment options.  As opposed to lung cancer where tumors are individual masses, mesothelioma is presented as a large mass of interlocked tumors that blend in with healthy tissue, making treatment very difficult.   Stopping tumor growth and preventing metastasis is especially critical for mesothelioma where the disease is highly aggressive. 

The researchers tested an immuno-gene therapy treatment that uses a modified common cold virus to trigger a patient’s immune system to destroy mesothelioma cells.  In the study, an adenovirus —a modified common cold virus—was altered in the laboratory to express high levels of a potent immune system stimulant called interferon-alpha.  Interferon-alpha is a protein produced by immune cells that boost the body’s ability to fight infections and some cancers. 

The virus was injected directly into the infected chest cavity of nine mesothelioma patients with various stages of mesothelioma.  Antibody responses directed against the tumors were seen in almost all of the subjects.  

Daniel Sterman, MD, associate professor of Medicine, Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Division, and co-director of the Penn Mesothelioma and Pleural Program, and the study’s lead author said, “Since there are very few effective treatments for advanced mesothelioma, it is important that we were able to demonstrate radiographic and biochemical evidence of clinical anti-tumor activity in some of our patients.” 

Penn researchers are now testing the new approach in patients with early stage mesothelioma. It’s being used in combination with chemotherapy in a clinical trial sponsored by the National Cancer Institute.

“Given our encouraging results in this trial with advanced stage patients, we believe that multimodality regimens incorporating immuno-gene therapy will have an important role in the treatment of earlier stage patients suffering from malignant mesothelioma,” said Abelda. 

In 2010, Abelda was recipient of the prestigious Wagner Medal for Excellence in Mesothelioma Research from the International Mesothelioma Interest Group (IMIG).  The Wagner Medal is the highest honor presented by IMIG to a leader in the field and is only awarded every two years.