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.