REOVIRUS THERAPY OF TUMORS WITH ACTIVATED RAS PATHWAY

Human reovirus requires an activated Res signaling pathway far infecti on of cultured cells. To investigate whether this property can be expl oited for cancer therapy, severe combined immune deficient mice bearin g tumors established from v-erbB-transformed murine NIH 3T3 cells or h uman U87 glioblastoma cells were treated with the virus. A single intr atumoral injection of virus resulted in regression of tumors in 65 to 80 percent of the mice. Treatment of immune-competent C3H mice bearing tumors established from ras-transformed C3H-10T1/2 cells also resulte d in tumor regression, although a series of injections were required. These results suggest that, with further work, reovirus may have appli cability in the treatment of cancer.