A telomerase-specific oncolytic virotherapy for gastric cancer stem cells.

Abstract

Since cancer stem cells show their resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, they are thought to be correlated with the treatment resistance of many cancers, and thus help explain recurrence and advanced disease. Here, we examined the therapeutic effect of a genetically engineered telomerase specific oncolytic adenovirus, Telomelysin, (OBP-301) against cancer stem cells. OBP-301 killed CD133+ human gastric cancer, which have a stem cell-like phenotype, more efficiently than conventional therapies. Visualization of cell-cycle behavior in living cells by Fucci showed that tumor spheres of CD133+ cells maintained a G0/G1 state, and that OBP-301 then killed them through virus-induced S phase transition. Mobilization of quiescent CSCs may sensitize them to cell death signals.