Proteasome inhibition enhances oncolytic reovirus therapy in multiple myeloma independently of its direct cytotoxic effects

Bibliographic Details
Title: Proteasome inhibition enhances oncolytic reovirus therapy in multiple myeloma independently of its direct cytotoxic effects
Authors: Ada Alice Dona, Theophilus Tandoh, Lokesh Nigam, Mahmoud Singer, Enrico Caserta, Mariam Murtadha, Yinghui Zhu, Milad Moloudizargari, Preeti Sharma, Ottavio Napolitano, Janet Winchester, Arnab Chowdhury, Alex Pozhitkov, James F. Sanchez, Hawa Vahed, Guido Marcucci, Matt Coffey, Gerard Nuovo, Douglas W. Sborov, Flavia Pichiorri, Craig C Hofmeister
Source: Journal of Hematology & Oncology, Vol 18, Iss 1, Pp 1-21 (2025)
Publisher Information: BMC, 2025.
Publication Year: 2025
Collection: LCC:Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs
LCC:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens
Subject Terms: Proteasome inhibitors, Multiple myeloma, Oncolytic therapy, Reovirus, Mass cytometry, Monocytes, Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs, RC633-647.5, Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens, RC254-282
More Details: Abstract Background Reovirus (RV) is an oncolytic virus with natural tropism for cancer cells. We previously showed that RV administration in multiple myeloma (MM) patients was safe, but disease control associated with viral replication in the cancer cells was not observed. The combination with proteasome inhibitors (PIs) has shown to enhance RV therapeutic activity, but the mechanisms of action have not been fully elucidated. Methods Electron microscopy, q-RT-PCR, single-cell mass cytometry (CyTOF), flow cytometry, plaque assays, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot analysis were used to assess RV infection of both myeloma and immune cells. Immune fluorescence, flow cytometry, and luciferase reporter assays were used to assess NF-κB pathway activation upon RV treatments. Immune profiling changes, both ex vivo and in MM patients, were analyzed by flow cytometry and CyTOF analysis. T-cell receptor (TCR) sequencing was also conducted both in immune competent MM mice and in patients enrolled in a phase 1b trial per a standard 3 + 3 dose escalation schedule. Results Here we show ex vivo and in vivo that proteasome inhibitors (PIs) potentiate reovirus replication in circulating classical monocytes, increasing viral delivery to myeloma cells. We found that the anti-viral signals in monocytes primarily rely on NF-κB activation and that this effect is impaired by the addition of PIs. Conversely, the addition of PIs to RV therapy supports immune activation and killing of MM, independently of direct PI sensitivity. To validate the importance of PIs in enhancing oncolytic viral therapy independently of their killing activity on cancer cells, we then conducted a phase 1b trial of the reovirus Pelareorep together with the PI carfilzomib in 13 heavily pretreated PI-resistant MM patients. Objective responses, which were associated with active reovirus replication in MM cells, T cell activation, and monocytic expansion, were noted in 70% of patients. Conclusions Although characterized as immunosuppressive drugs, PIs improved RV delivery to MM cells but also enhanced anti-MM efficacy through immune-mediated killing of myeloma cells, independently of their PI sensitivity. These results highlight a more generalizable use of PIs as therapeutic companions to support oncolytic-based therapies in cancers. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov, NCT 02101944.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1756-8722
Relation: https://doaj.org/toc/1756-8722
DOI: 10.1186/s13045-024-01645-3
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/93d8e62d0ec54172ba2b1c709a46b8f8
Accession Number: edsdoj.93d8e62d0ec54172ba2b1c709a46b8f8
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
Full text is not displayed to guests.
More Details
ISSN:17568722
DOI:10.1186/s13045-024-01645-3
Published in:Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Language:English