Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma

Elevated levels of immune infiltration found in renal cell carcinoma are often associated with poor patient prognosis, likely due to T cell exhaustion and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which limits the efficacy of current immunotherapies. In this study, we focused on the use of Ad5/3-...

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Main Authors: Victor Arias, Tatiana V. Kudling, James H.A. Clubb, Elise Jirovec, Santeri A. Pakola, Mirte Van der Heijden, Saru Basnet, Dafne C.A. Quixabeira, Lyna Haybout, Nea Ojala, Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela, Anna Kanerva, Antti Rannikko, João M. Santos, Victor Cervera-Carrascon, Otto Hemminki, Akseli Hemminki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-06-01
Series:Molecular Therapy: Oncology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950329925000487
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author Victor Arias
Tatiana V. Kudling
James H.A. Clubb
Elise Jirovec
Santeri A. Pakola
Mirte Van der Heijden
Saru Basnet
Dafne C.A. Quixabeira
Lyna Haybout
Nea Ojala
Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
Anna Kanerva
Antti Rannikko
João M. Santos
Victor Cervera-Carrascon
Otto Hemminki
Akseli Hemminki
author_facet Victor Arias
Tatiana V. Kudling
James H.A. Clubb
Elise Jirovec
Santeri A. Pakola
Mirte Van der Heijden
Saru Basnet
Dafne C.A. Quixabeira
Lyna Haybout
Nea Ojala
Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
Anna Kanerva
Antti Rannikko
João M. Santos
Victor Cervera-Carrascon
Otto Hemminki
Akseli Hemminki
author_sort Victor Arias
collection DOAJ
description Elevated levels of immune infiltration found in renal cell carcinoma are often associated with poor patient prognosis, likely due to T cell exhaustion and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which limits the efficacy of current immunotherapies. In this study, we focused on the use of Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hIL7 (TILT-517), an oncolytic adenovirus expressing interleukin-7, as a strategy to selectively lyse tumors. This approach also seeks to activate infiltrating immune cells, thereby reprogramming the immune landscape characteristic of renal cell carcinoma tumors. Furthermore, we evaluated the combination of TILT-517 with immune checkpoint inhibitors, main immunotherapeutic component for this disease. Anti-tumor efficacy was significantly observed in ex vivo patient-derived tumors when treated with TILT-517 in monotherapy and in treatment combination. Cellular and proteomic changes were detected in the tumor microenvironment, including enhanced cytotoxicity of effector populations such as CD4+, CD8+ T cells, natural killer, and natural killer T cells. In vivo, we developed a novel syngeneic Syrian hamster model for renal cancer, and TILT-517+anti-PD-L1 group presented significant enhanced tumor growth control and led to an increased number of effector and antigen-presenting cells compared to anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. Hence, TILT-517 offers a promising approach for renal cell carcinoma treatment, boosting therapeutic efficacy and reshaping the tumor microenvironment.
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spelling doaj-art-2f3fb806bdbe425890bf4fdd5daf81fd2025-08-20T02:17:40ZengElsevierMolecular Therapy: Oncology2950-32992025-06-0133220097910.1016/j.omton.2025.200979Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinomaVictor Arias0Tatiana V. Kudling1James H.A. Clubb2Elise Jirovec3Santeri A. Pakola4Mirte Van der Heijden5Saru Basnet6Dafne C.A. Quixabeira7Lyna Haybout8Nea Ojala9Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela10Anna Kanerva11Antti Rannikko12João M. Santos13Victor Cervera-Carrascon14Otto Hemminki15Akseli Hemminki16Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, FinlandDepartment of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland; ONCOSYS Research Program in Systems Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Urology, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, FinlandCancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; TILT Biotherapeutics Ltd, Helsinki, Finland; Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital (HUS), Helsinki, Finland; Corresponding author: Prof. Akseli Hemminki, Cancer Gene Therapy Group, Translational Immunology Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, FinlandElevated levels of immune infiltration found in renal cell carcinoma are often associated with poor patient prognosis, likely due to T cell exhaustion and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which limits the efficacy of current immunotherapies. In this study, we focused on the use of Ad5/3-E2F-d24-hIL7 (TILT-517), an oncolytic adenovirus expressing interleukin-7, as a strategy to selectively lyse tumors. This approach also seeks to activate infiltrating immune cells, thereby reprogramming the immune landscape characteristic of renal cell carcinoma tumors. Furthermore, we evaluated the combination of TILT-517 with immune checkpoint inhibitors, main immunotherapeutic component for this disease. Anti-tumor efficacy was significantly observed in ex vivo patient-derived tumors when treated with TILT-517 in monotherapy and in treatment combination. Cellular and proteomic changes were detected in the tumor microenvironment, including enhanced cytotoxicity of effector populations such as CD4+, CD8+ T cells, natural killer, and natural killer T cells. In vivo, we developed a novel syngeneic Syrian hamster model for renal cancer, and TILT-517+anti-PD-L1 group presented significant enhanced tumor growth control and led to an increased number of effector and antigen-presenting cells compared to anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. Hence, TILT-517 offers a promising approach for renal cell carcinoma treatment, boosting therapeutic efficacy and reshaping the tumor microenvironment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950329925000487MT: regular issueoncolytic virusadenovirusimmunotherapyT cell exhaustioninterleukin 7
spellingShingle Victor Arias
Tatiana V. Kudling
James H.A. Clubb
Elise Jirovec
Santeri A. Pakola
Mirte Van der Heijden
Saru Basnet
Dafne C.A. Quixabeira
Lyna Haybout
Nea Ojala
Susanna Grönberg-Vähä-Koskela
Anna Kanerva
Antti Rannikko
João M. Santos
Victor Cervera-Carrascon
Otto Hemminki
Akseli Hemminki
Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
Molecular Therapy: Oncology
MT: regular issue
oncolytic virus
adenovirus
immunotherapy
T cell exhaustion
interleukin 7
title Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
title_full Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
title_fullStr Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
title_full_unstemmed Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
title_short Boosting anti-tumor immunity with TILT-517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
title_sort boosting anti tumor immunity with tilt 517 oncolytic adenovirus and checkpoint blockade in renal cell carcinoma
topic MT: regular issue
oncolytic virus
adenovirus
immunotherapy
T cell exhaustion
interleukin 7
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950329925000487
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