PUBLICATION

Modeling oncolytic virus dynamics in the tumor microenvironment using zebrafish

Authors
Mealiea, D., Boudreau, E., De Silva, N., Okamoto, L., Ho, T., Fish, J.E., McCart, J.A.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200711-4
Date
2020
Source
Cancer Gene Therapy   28(7-8): 769-784 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Boudreau, Emilie, Fish, Jason E.
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Models, Animal
  • Oncolytic Viruses/metabolism*
  • Tumor Microenvironment
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32647136 Full text @ Cancer Gene Ther.
Abstract
We have adapted a zebrafish (Danio rerio) tumor xenograft model for use in the study of oncolytic virotherapy. Following implantation of mammalian cancer cells into the perivitelline space of developing zebrafish embryos, both local and intravenous oncolytic virus treatments produce a tumor-specific infection with measurable antitumor effects. Tumor cells are injected at 48 h post fertilization, with oncolytic virus treatment then being administered 24 h later to allow for an initial period of tumor development and angiogenesis. Confocal fluorescent imaging is used to quantify dynamics within the tumor environment. The natural translucency of zebrafish at the embryo stage, coupled with the availability of strains with fluorescent immune and endothelial cell reporter lines, gives the model broad potential to allow for real time, in vivo investigation of important events within tumors throughout the course of virotherapy. Zebrafish xenografts offer a system with biologic fidelity to processes in human cancer development that influence oncolytic virus efficacy, and to our knowledge this is the first demonstration of the model's use in the context of virotherapy. Compared with other models, our protocol offers a powerful, inexpensive approach to evaluating novel oncolytic viruses and oncolytic virus-based combination therapies, with potential application to investigating the impacts of virotherapy on immune response, tumor vasculature, and metastatic disease.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping