Methods for treatment of cancer using chikungunya-vsv chimeric virus

Abstract

Chimeric viruses having a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) background where the VSV G protein is supplemented or replaced with an alphavirus glycoprotein(s), or a functional fragment(s) thereof, are provided. A preferred alphavirus is Chikungunya virus. In particular embodiments, the glycoprotein(s) is or includes E3, E2, K6, and E1 proteins of an alphavirus, preferably Chikungunya virus. Methods of using the chimeric viruses for treatment of cancers, particularly brain cancers and metastasis thereof are also provided. In some embodiments, the chimeric viruses retain superior oncolytic activity to infect and destroy cancer cells selectively, such as glioblastoma and intracranial melanoma metastases. In some embodiments, the chimeric viruses have reduced toxicity to e.g., heathy cells relative to a control such as the parent VSV with the VSV G protein.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.