Intergeneric poliovirus recombinants for the treatment of malignant glioma

Poliovirus neuropathogenicity depends on sequences within the 5' nontransla ted region of the virus. Exchange of the poliovirus internal ribosomal entr y site with its counterpart from human rhinovirus type 2 resulted in attenu ation of neurovirulence in primates. Despite deficient virus propagation in cells of neuronal origin, nonpathogenic polio recombinants retain excellen t growth characteristics in cell lines derived from glial neoplasms. Suscep tibility of malignant glioma cells to poliovirus may be mediated by express ion of a poliovirus receptor, CD155. in glial neoplasms. Intergeneric polio recombinants with heterologous internal ribosomal entry site elements unfo lded strong oncolytic potential against experimentally induced gliomas in a thymic mice. Our observations suggest that highly attenuated poliovirus rec ombinants may have applicability as biotherapeutic antineoplastic agents.