Coxsackievirus A11 is an immunostimulatory oncolytic virus that induces complete tumor regression in a human non-small cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Innovative treatment is required to improve overall survival rates for advanced NSCLC. Oncolytic virotherapy using enteroviruses has emerged as a promising anticancer strategy. To identify a novel, potent virotherapy with an improved safety profile, we assessed the oncolytic activity of 28 enteroviral strains and focused on coxsackievirus A11 (CVA11). CVA11 infection caused extensive oncolytic activity in all three of the examined human NSCLC cell lines, with high intercellular adhesion molecule- 1 (ICAM-1) expression associated with greater CVA11-induced cytotoxicity. In vitro inhibition analysis using a pan-caspase inhibitor and western blot detection of cleaved poly (ADPribose) polymerase (PARP) indicated that apoptosis partly contributed to CVA11-driven cytotoxicity. CVA11 infection-induced immunogenic cell death in vitro was strongly suggested by substantial calreticulin expression and release of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1). Moreover, in vivo treatment of human NSCLC xenografts with intratumoral CVA11 injection caused complete tumor regression in all treated mice, without significant weight loss. Our findings indicate that novel oncolytic virotherapy utilizing CVA11 may be less toxic and more effective than current treatments for human NSCLC, thus warranting further investigation in clinical trial settings, especially in combination with immunotherapy.

Automated summary

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. This study highlights the potential of oncolytic virotherapy using coxsackievirus A11 (CVA11) as a less toxic and more effective treatment for NSCLC. CVA11 infection showed extensive oncolytic activity in human NSCLC cell lines and induced immunogenic cell death. In vivo experiments also demonstrated complete tumor regression without significant weight loss. Further investigation in clinical trials, especially in combination with immunotherapy, is warranted.