Tumor therapy with replication competent sindbis viral vectors

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods for treating a mammal harboring a solid tumor which expresses higher levels of High Affinity Laminin Receptors (LAMR) than normal cells of the same lineage comprising systematically administering to a mammal in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of a Replication Competent (RC) Sindbis virus vector, wherein said vector encodes a suicide gene.

1 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A Replication competent mut-4 Sindbis virus vector comprising SEQ. ID NOS.: 2-8. 
     
     
         34 . The RC mut-4 Sindbis virus vector of  claim 33  further comprising a suicide gene. 
     
     
         35 . The RC mut-4 Sindbis virus vector of  claim 34  wherein said suicide gene is HSVtk. 
     
     
         36 . The RC mut-4 Sindbis virus vector of  claim 34  wherein said suicide gene is cytosine deaminase. 
     
     
         37 . The RC mut-4 Sindbis virus vector of  claim 34  wherein said suicide gene is Vericella Zoster virus thymidine kinase. 
     
     
         38 . The RC mut-4 Sindbis virus vector of  claim 34  wherein the genome of said vector is in a single component. 
     
     
         39 . A pharmaceutical formulation or dosage form for administration to a mammal suffering from a solid tumor which expresses higher levels of LAMR than normal cells of the same lineage comprising a mut-4 RC Sindbis virus vector comprising SEQ. ID NOS.: 2-8 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent, wherein said vector further comprises a suicide gene.