Antitumor efficacy of oncolytic HSV-1 expressing cytosine deaminase is synergistically enhanced by DPD down-regulation and EMT inhibition in uveal melanoma xenograft

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common intraocular tumor in adults and has a high incidence of metastases. Possible treatments remain limited in UM with enucleation and radiation, leading to poor prognosis in this chemo-resistant carcinoma. Thus, urging demand for novel treatment is needed. We examined the antitumor efficacy of a new recombinant oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (oHSV-1) armed with E.coli cytosine deaminase (CD). We determined the efficacy of the oncolytic virus in UM cell lines. In vivo experiments showed that oHSV-CD/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) treatment reduce tumor volume and prolonged survival. We further demonstrated the molecular mechanisms of oHSV-CD/5-FC treatment. The oncolytic virus down-regulated IL-6 expression and thereby reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) phenotype. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), the rate-limiting enzyme in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) metabolism, was also down-regulated. Therefore, the efficacy of oHSV-CD/5-FC was synergistically enhanced by DPD down-regulation and EMT inhibition. This study provides solid evidence for the antitumor efficacy of oHSV-CD/5-FC treatment in vitro and in vivo. The molecular mechanisms of this treatment may bring a new therapeutic approach for future treatment of UM. •oHSV-CD induces cell killing effects and was enhanced by 5-FC in vitro.•oHSV-CD/5-FC induces antitumor efficacy and prolongs survival in vivo.•oHSV-CD down-regulates IL-6, reversing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype.•oHSV-CD down-regulates dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase expression.•oHSV-CD/5-FC is a potential therapeutic for uveal melanoma treatment.