Armed oncolytic measles vaccine virus–a novel therapeutic agent for virotherapy of sarcomas of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal origin

Introduction: The oncolytic potential of measles vaccine virus (MeV) has been demonstrated in several tumor models but it has also been shown that primary and secondary resistances exist or may arise. To improve the oncolytic potential of MeV and to overcome resistances, a suicide gene (SCD) was inserted (MeV-SCD) which allows the systemic application of the prodrug 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) which is locally converted into the chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). 5-FU is diffusible and can kill primarily non-infected neighbouring cells. Aims: To investigate if MeV-SCD in combination with the prodrug 5-FC is a s…