Compositions and methods for treatement of cancer

Abstract

The present invention discloses lentogenic viral strains useful in the treatment of cancer. A preferred viral strain of Newcastle disease Virus (NDV) is specifically characterized in terms of biological activities. The present invention further discloses treatment of cancer by application of a clonal NDV strain to tumors. According to an alternative preferred embodiment the use of at least one isolated viral protein or subunit or analog thereof, or an isolated polynucleotide encoding same, is used in the treatment of cancer.

1 . A composition for the treatment of cancer comprising at least one isolated viral glycoprotein or a subunit or analog thereof having oncolytic activity and a suitable carrier. 
     
     
         2 . The composition according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one viral glycoprotein is from Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). 
     
     
         3 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one viral glycoprotein is the F glycoprotein of NDV. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein the at least one viral glycoprotein is the HN glycoprotein of NDV. 
     
     
         5 . The composition according to  claim 2  comprising the F glycoprotein and HN glycoprotein of NDV. 
     
     
         6 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein the viral glycoprotein is from a velogenic strain of NDV. 
     
     
         7 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein the viral glycoprotein is from a mesogenic strain of NDV. 
     
     
         8 . The composition according to  claim 2  wherein the viral glycoprotein is from a lentogenic strain of NDV. 
     
     
         9 . The composition according to  claim 8  wherein the lentogenic strain of NDV is the HUJ. 
     
     
         10 . A method for treating cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the step of administering is selected from intravenous, oral, buccal, intranasal, inhalation, topical application to a mucosal membrane or injection, including intradermal, intrathecal, intracisternal, and intralesional injection. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10  wherein the step of administering comprises locally administering the composition to a tumor or in its vicinity. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making the composition of  claim 1  for treatment of cancer which comprises incorporating in the composition an isolated viral glycoprotein or a subunit or an analog thereof having oncolytic activity or of an isolated polynucleotide encoding same.