Oncoselective transduction of CD80 and CD86 in tumor cell lines using an autonomous recombinant parvovirus

Background: The aim of this study wits to enhance selectively the immunosti mulatory properties of tumor cells. Based on their oncotropic properties, w e used autonomous recombinant parvoviruses to transduce the genes coding fo r the costimulatory molecules CD80 (B7-1) or CD86 (B7-2) specifically into tumor. cells without transducing normal cells. Materials and Methods :After infection of tumor cells by these viruses, surface expression of CD80 and CD86 molecules was assessed by I;ACS and enhancement of immunostimulatory p roperties was assessed in alloreactions with G-IO purified T cells. Results : Infection of normal and transformed cells with recombinant MVM- B7-1 or B7-2 viruses fends to expression of costimulatory molecules only by tumor c ells and confers on them the capacity to sensitize naive T cells in vitro. Conclusion : This approach should ultimately lead to selective expression o f costimulatory molecules in tumor tissues in vivo without affecting normal cells.