AdVince - immunotherapy for neuroendocrine cancer
AdVince is an immunotherapy developed by Professor Magnus Essand's research group at Uppsala University.
It is a so-called oncolytic adenovirus that is used in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumors, especially daughter tumors formed in the liver. Oncolytic viruses are genetically modified viruses that infect and selectively multiply inside tumor cells and then burst the cells from within, releasing large amounts of new viruses and substances that can activate the immune system to attack the tumor. These new viruses can in turn infect and kill nearby tumor cells. AdVince's selectivity for neuroendocrine cells is due to the fact that it is controlled by chromogranin A. To reduce potential liver toxicity, a microRNA target sequence (miR122) has also been incorporated into the virus so that it does not replicate in healthy liver cells. The virus is injected using an X-ray-based technique that uses blood vessels in the groin to reach the liver.
This treatment has had an exciting journey. The virus, which had shown very good efficacy in preclinical studies, was frozen for a long time, awaiting funding to carry out the clinical trial. The author and journalist Alexander Masters drew attention to this in a number of thought-provoking articles in the British media, which received a very strong response around the world and led to a successful crowdfunding campaign (iCancer) where the largest contributor, the late entrepreneur Vince Hamilton, got to name the virus. Through the generosity of more than 2000 donors from more than 40 countries, a phase I trial was launched in 2016, primarily to investigate the safety of the treatment.
Magnus Essand: "Alexander Master's articles had an enormous impact and have been absolutely crucial to the study and I am very pleased that the Faculty of Medicine at Uppsala University has awarded Alexander an honorary doctorate. The same goes for Vince and Mona Hamilton's great commitment.“
The clinical trial (EudraCT no: 2014-000614-64) was started by Professor Kjell Öberg at the Endocrine Oncology Clinic at Uppsala University Hospital but has now been taken over by Dr. Joakim Crona. 10 patients with neuroendocrine tumor disease have been treated so far (August 2023). Four different dose levels have been investigated and the treatment has been well tolerated. Two more patients will be included before the end of the phase I part of the clinical trial, which is expected in the fall of 2023. Thereafter, we expect to be able to recruit additional patients both in Uppsala and in Tübingen, Germany.
One of many examples of successful collaboration between Uppsala University and Uppsala University Hospital.