# Armed oncolytic parvoviral vectors for modulating the tumor microenvironment

> **NIH NIH R21** · YALE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $218,588

## Abstract

Abstract: 
Armed  oncolytic  viruses  are  an  emerging  therapeutic  strategy  for  many  cancers.  The  parvoviruses  are  the 
smallest  viruses  currently  being  developed  as  oncotherapeutic  agents,  and  are  non-­enveloped  and  extremely 
rugged,  simplifying  their  production,  purification  and  storage,  as  well  as  enhancing  their  tissue  penetration 
properties.    Rodent  protoparvoviruses  can  infect  human  cells  only  if  neoplastically  transformed,  and  thus  are 
intrinsically  oncotropic  -­  the  rodent  protoparvovirus  H-­1  is  currently  in  Phase  I/IIA  clinical  trials  against 
glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer.  We have developed a replicating, but non-­propagating, parvoviral vector 
system,  which  can  be  packaged  into  tumor  cell  target-­enhanced  capsid  selected  in  vitro.    These  dual 
transgene  vectors  express  secreted,  soluble  versions  of  murine  or  human  PD-­1  (sPD-­1),  or  an  anti-­CTLA-­4 
camelid nanobody, coordinately with the murine co-­stimulatory molecules CD80 or CD48, to render the tumor 
cell itself an effective antigen presenting cell.  We will test the hypothesis that the secreted transgene products 
will  effectively  block  the  two  major  immune  checkpoint  pathways  when  secreted  directly  within  the  tumor 
microenvironment,  potentially  avoiding  the  side-­effects  associated  with  systemic  administration  of  immune 
checkpoint inhibitors.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9933836
- **Project number:** 5R21CA240166-02
- **Recipient organization:** YALE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Peter J. Tattersall
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $218,588
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-06-01 → 2022-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9933836

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9933836, Armed oncolytic parvoviral vectors for modulating the tumor microenvironment (5R21CA240166-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9933836. Licensed CC0.

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