THERADPOX - Optimised and novel oncolytic adenoviruses and pox viruses in the treatment of cancer: Virotherapy combined with molecular chemotherapy (FP6-LIFESCIHEALTH) (2005-12-01 - 2008-11-30) (»add to infobox)

Monika LUSKY, Ramon ALEMANY, Frédérique MESSUD-PETIT, Richard IGGO, Harry JALONEN, Akseli HEMMINKI, Abdelmjid BOUSSETTA, Gerd SUTTER, Thomas GREINER, Maud SEGUY

TRANSGENE SA (FR421 - Bas-Rhin) (France), INSTITUT CATALA D'ONCOLOGIA (ES512 - Girona) (Spain), INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRONOMIQUE (INRA) (FR101 - Paris) (France), THE UNIVERSITY COURT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS (UKM22 - Clackmannanshire and Fife) (Great Britain), DELSITECH OY (FI183 - Varsinais-Suomi) (Finland), HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO (FI181 - Uusimaa) (Finland), NEWLAB (FR411 - Meurthe-et-Moselle) (France), PAUL-EHRLICH-INSTITUT (BUNDESAMT FUER SERA UND IMPFSTOFFE) (DE71C - Offenbach, Landkreis) (Germany), ONCOTEST (DE131 - Freiburg im Breisgau, Stadtkreis) (Germany), ACIES SAS (FR716 - Rhône) (France)

Cancer is today the second cause of disease-induced mortality worldwide. Among innovative treatments for cancer, virotherapy holds great promise. Virotherapy exploits an intrinsic feature of the lifecycle of oncolytic viruses (OVs): replication and spreading exclusively in tumour cells leading to their destruction, while not affecting normal cells. Clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of this approach, but have shown only minimal therapeutic efficacy. Synergistic effects of combination treatments of OVs with chemo- and radiation therapy have been observed. Nevertheless, this approach still leaves patients subjected to the toxic adverse effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Thus, an unmet need exists for the improvement of current and the development of new treatment platforms leading to a significant increase in cure rates. Owing to their inherent strong oncolytic potency and safety record, pox virus and adenovirus based vectors have been chosen to pursue the goal of the THERADPOX project: to improve the safety and therapeutic efficacy of OVs in vivo. Novel and improved OVs will be engineered which, in vivo i) specifically target colorectal, pancreatic and ovarian cancer cells, ii) replicate exclusively in cancer cells, iii) are armed with therapeutic genes rendering only tumour cells sensitive to chemotherapy, and iv) widely spread within the tumour to permit total tumour eradication. Through the multidisciplinary workplan proposed and the strong and complementary expertise of the 10 European partners involved, the THERADPOX project will i) generate advanced knowledge which could be translated towards a safer cancer treatment with an increased therapeutic index, ii) contribute to improve the quality of life of cancer patients by fewer treatments with no toxic side effects, iii) lead to the proposal of new guidelines and standards for the development of OVs, and iv) strengthen the competitiveness of Europe.

PERSONS (10/10)

RELATED NAVIGATION AREA(S) (3/3)