Abstract
T-cell costimulatory molecules such as 4-1BB may provide a distinct and important signal for promoting
positive immune regulation. 4-1BB is thought to have potential use as a cancer immunotherapeutic drug. In our
previous study, a nonreplicative adenovirus (Ad.4-1BB scFv) carrying single-chain Fv fragments (scFv) specific
for the 4-1BB gene (anti-4-1BB scFv) possessed remarkable in vivo anti-hepatoma efficacy. However,
monotherapy achieved by triggering 4-1BB signaling was not sufficient to induce eradicative anti-tumor activities
in low immunogenic tumors. It is of great interest to explore any possible synergistic antitumor effect of 4-1BB
signaling combined with low dose cyclophosphamide (CTX), which is well documented to inhibit the suppressive
capability of regulatory T cells in mice and humans. In the present study, recombinant nonreplicative adenoviruses
carrying an anti-4-1BB scFv gene were generated, characterized, and explored for their stimulation of anti-lung
tumor (TC-1) immunity in immunocompetent C57BL/6 mice. Compared to adenovirus and cyclophosphamide
alone, adenovirus-mediated anti-4-1BB scFv in combination with low dose CTX treatment could obviously
augment the anti-tumor activity, in which some established TC-1 tumors were eradicated and the survival of mice
was significantly extended. This synergistic antitumor effect could be largely attributed to the depletion of T
regulatory cells induced by low dose CTX. These findings may provide a new and promising strategy for
immunogene therapy against cancer.