Cancer treatment using viruses and camptothecins

Abstract

Mammalian subjects having a neoplasm are treated with a virus and a camptothecin compound, for example irinotecan or topotecan. The virus is selected from the group consisting of a Newcastle disease virus, a measles virus, a vesicular stomatitis virus, an influenza virus, a Sindbis virus, a picornavirus, and a myxoma virus. The treatment can also include administration of a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor, for example cetuximab.

1 . A method of treating a mammalian subject having a neoplasm, comprising 
 administering to the subject a virus and a camptothecin compound in a combined amount effective to treat the subject;    wherein the virus is selected from the group consisting of a Newcastle disease virus, a measles virus, a vesicular stomatitis virus, an influenza virus, a Sindbis virus, a picornavirus, and a myxoma virus.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering to the subject a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor in an amount effective, in combination with the virus and the camptothecin compound, to treat the subject.  
   
   
       3 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is replication-competent.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is a Newcastle Disease virus.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virus is a mesogenic strain of Newcastle Disease virus.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is a picornavirus selected from the group consisting of a poliovirus, an echovirus, and a coxsackievirus.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virus is a coxsackievirus selected from type A21, A13, A15 and A18.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the virus is an echovirus type 1.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is administered intravenously.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the camptothecin compound is selected from the group consisting of irinotecan, topotecan, 9-aminocamptothecin, exatecan, karenitecin, rubitecan, lurtotecan, and a homocamptothecin.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the camptothecin compound is irinotecan.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camptothecin compound and the virus are administered to the subject within a single twenty-four hour period.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camptothecin compound is administered from twenty-four hours to one month before administration of the virus.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the camptothecin compound is administered from twenty-four hours to one week before administration of the virus.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the camptothecin compound is administered to the subject from twenty-four hours to one month after administration of the virus.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the camptothecin compound is administered to the subject from twenty-four hours to one week after administration of the virus.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the monoclonal antibody is cetuximab.