Case report: Regression of Glioblastoma after flavivirus infection

Garcez, Patrícia P.; Guasti, André; Ventura, Nina; Higa, Luiza M.; Andreiuolo, Felipe; Freitas, Gabriella P A de; Ribeiro, Liane de Jesus; Maia, Richard Araujo; Lima, Sheila Maria Barbosa de; Azevedo, Adriana de Souza; Schwarcz, Waleska Dias; Caride, Elena; Chimelli, Leila; Dubois, Luiz Gustavo; Júnior, Orlando da Costa Ferreira; Tanuri, Amílcar; Moura‐Neto, Vivaldo; Niemeyer, Paulo

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1192070

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Serum analysis found the presence of antibodies versus ZIKV. The patient experienced total remission, and the situation remained stable over the following six years [24]. In the present study, for the first time, we have demonstrated that the oncolytic effect of ZIKV could also target pancreatic NETs (Figure 11) due to their neural origin.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

“…Our strong interest in this virus is driven by its marked ability to specifically target glioblastoma cells, with no reported effect on other cell types, except on NSCs during the developmental stage [23]. In this regard, a case report described a possible fortuitous infection in a glioblastoma patient [24]. During a ZIKV outbreak in Brazil, the patient was subjected to neurosurgery after glioblastoma diagnosis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Oncolytic Effect of Zika Virus in Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumors: New Perspectives for Therapeutic Approaches

Cocco,

Carcione,

Miceli

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pancreatic cancer (PCa) is the fifth leading cause of cancer mortality. Recently, our group and others have demonstrated the oncolytic activity of the Zika virus (ZIKV) against glioblastoma. The peculiar features of this virus offer the opportunity to use an agent already tested in vivo through natural transmission, with minimal effects on adults, to specifically target a tumor such as glioblastoma. This remarkable specificity prompted us to explore the potential use of ZIKV oncolytic action against other tumor types. In particular, we focused on the subgroup of pancreatic tumors with a neuroendocrine origin known as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). We found that ZIKV exerts its oncolytic activity by specifically infecting NET cells, leading to growth inhibition and cell death. We also assessed whether the oncolytic action could be extended to pancreatic tumors different from NETs. However, as expected, the viral specificity is limited to NETs and is not applicable to adenocarcinoma tumors, indicating a narrow spectrum of action for this virus. These findings support the potential use of ZIKV in therapeutic approaches not only in glioblastoma, but also against other tumors, such as neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 59%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Oncolytic Effect of Zika Virus in Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumors: New Perspectives for Therapeutic Approaches

Cocco,

Carcione,

Miceli

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…After surgery, the patient had radiotherapy and chemotherapy with TMZ; however, a few weeks later she became infected with ZIKV. Six years after this, the patient remained in remission with no GBM recurrence despite carrying wild-type copies for the IDH1 and IDH2 genes together with mutations in oncogenes such as PIK3CA, clinically associated with patients who develop GBM at a young age and who had a poor survival prognosis [ 73 ]. The latter highlights the low toxicity that ZIKV seems to have in adults, which might support the clinical translation of WT ZIKV in controlled trials.…”

Section: Zikv Therapy In Gbmmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zika Virus: A Neurotropic Warrior against High-Grade Gliomas—Unveiling Its Potential for Oncolytic Virotherapy

Calderón-Peláez,

Maradei Anaya,

Bedoya-Rodríguez

et al. 2024

Viruses

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Gliomas account for approximately 75–80% of all malignant primary tumors in the central nervous system (CNS), with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) considered the deadliest. Despite aggressive treatment involving a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical intervention, patients with GBM have limited survival rates of 2 to 5 years, accompanied by a significant decline in their quality of life. In recent years, novel management strategies have emerged, such as immunotherapy, which includes the development of vaccines or T cells with chimeric antigen receptors, and oncolytic virotherapy (OVT), wherein wild type (WT) or genetically modified viruses are utilized to selectively lyse tumor cells. In vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the Zika virus (ZIKV) can infect glioma cells and induce a robust oncolytic activity. Consequently, interest in exploring this virus as a potential oncolytic virus (OV) for high-grade gliomas has surged. Given that ZIKV actively circulates in Colombia, evaluating its neurotropic and oncolytic capabilities holds considerable national and international importance, as it may emerge as an alternative for treating highly complex gliomas. Therefore, this literature review outlines the generalities of GBM, the factors determining ZIKV’s specific tropism for nervous tissue, and its oncolytic capacity. Additionally, we briefly present the progress in preclinical studies supporting the use of ZIKV as an OVT for gliomas.

show abstract

“…In a recent study, investigators presented an interesting case involving a patient with glioblastoma who underwent the conventional standard-of-care therapy, including surgical resection, radiotherapy, and temozolomide administration [ 47 ]. Interestingly, at about the same time as the tumor-mass resection, the patient was simultaneously afflicted with a clinical diagnosis reminiscent of an arbovirus-like infection, which transpired during a Zika virus outbreak in Brazil.…”

Section: Oncolytic Virotherapymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After the successful resolution of the infection, a profound regression of the glioblastoma occurred, accompanied by the absence of any recurrence. This remarkable clinical response was consistently sustained, enduring for a remarkable span of 6 years (7 years now) following the initial diagnosis of glioblastoma [ 47 ]. ZIKV has shown oncolytic capacity, able to infect and trigger cell death mainly in the glioblastoma stem-like cell populations (Sox2+Ki67+) in vitro and in vivo, in animal models [ 48 , 49 , 50 ].…”

Section: Oncolytic Virotherapymentioning

confidence: 99%

Breaking Barriers: A Future Perspective on Glioblastoma Therapy with mRNA-Based Immunotherapies and Oncolytic Viruses

Guterres,

Filho,

Moura-Neto

2024

Vaccines

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The use of mRNA-based immunotherapies that leverage the genomes of oncolytic viruses holds significant promise in addressing glioblastoma (GBM), an exceptionally aggressive neurological tumor. We explore the significance of mRNA-based platforms in the area of immunotherapy, introducing an innovative approach to mitigate the risks associated with the use of live viruses in cancer treatment. The ability to customize oncolytic virus genome sequences enables researchers to precisely target specific cancer cells, either through viral genome segments containing structural proteins or through a combination of regions with oncolytic potential. This strategy may enhance treatment effectiveness while minimizing unintended impacts on non-cancerous cells. A notable case highlighted here pertains to advanced findings regarding the application of the Zika virus (ZIKV) in GBM treatment. ZIKV, a member of the family Flaviviridae, shows oncolytic properties against GBM, opening novel therapeutic avenues. We explore intensive investigations of glioblastoma stem cells, recognized as key drivers in GBM initiation, progression, and resistance to therapy. However, a comprehensive elucidation of ZIKV’s underlying mechanisms is imperative to pave the way for ZIKV-based clinical trials targeting GBM patients. This investigation into harnessing the potential of oncolytic-virus genomes for mRNA-based immunotherapies underscores its noteworthy implications, potentially paving the way for a paradigm shift in cancer treatment strategies.

show abstract

Case report: Regression of Glioblastoma after flavivirus infection

Cited by 6 publications

References 16 publications

Oncolytic Effect of Zika Virus in Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumors: New Perspectives for Therapeutic Approaches

Oncolytic Effect of Zika Virus in Neuroendocrine Pancreatic Tumors: New Perspectives for Therapeutic Approaches

Zika Virus: A Neurotropic Warrior against High-Grade Gliomas—Unveiling Its Potential for Oncolytic Virotherapy

Breaking Barriers: A Future Perspective on Glioblastoma Therapy with mRNA-Based Immunotherapies and Oncolytic Viruses

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About