Local treatment of HVJ-E with T cell costimulatory molecule stimulation elicits systemic anti-tumor effects.

The tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) is a crucial factor in controlling tumor growth. A therapeutic method activating TIL is desired for treating patients with metastatic tumors. Here, we show that treating a local tumor with a combination therapy of UV-irradiated hemagglutinating virus of Japan envelope (HVJ-E) plus agonist antibodies, including OX40, against T cell costimulatory molecules induces systemic anti-tumor effects in a T cell-dependent manner in multiple cancer cell lines.

DNA barcoding and gene expression recording reveal the presence of cancer cells with unique properties during tumor progression.

Tumors comprise diverse cancer cell populations with specific capabilities for adaptation to the tumor microenvironment, resistance to anticancer treatments, and metastatic dissemination. However, whether these populations are pre-existing in cancer cells or stochastically appear during tumor growth remains unclear. Here, we show the heterogeneous behaviors of cancer cells regarding response to anticancer drug treatments, formation of lung metastases, and expression of transcription factors related to cancer stem-like cells using a DNA barcoding and gene expression recording system.