Researchers Uncover Oncolytic Mechanism of Newcastle Disease Virus in Cancer Gene Therapy

Strategic Insights -

Scientists from Xi'an Jiaotong University in China have made a groundbreaking discovery in cancer gene therapy, revealing the oncolytic mechanism of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in a human colonic carcinoma cell line. According to the research, NDV has distinct advantages over other oncolytic viruses, including its safety profile, ability to spread among cells without exposure to host neutralizing antibodies, and high genetic stability. The study aimed to employ whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening and RNA sequencing to identify key regulatory factors involved in the interaction between NDV and human colon cancer HCT116 cells.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research team used whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening and RNA sequencing to identify putative key regulatory factors involved in the interaction between NDV and human colon cancer HCT116 cells.
  • The study found that NDV infection disrupts cellular homeostasis, thereby exerting oncolytic effects by inhibiting cell metabolism and proliferation.
  • The antiviral immune response triggered by NDV infection, along with the activation of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, may be responsible for the limited oncolytic efficacy of NDV against HCT116 cells.
  • The findings enhance our understanding of the oncolytic mechanism of NDV against colonic carcinoma and provide potential strategies and targets for the development of NDV-based engineered oncolytic viruses.
  • The research team identified key regulatory factors involved in the interaction between NDV and human colon cancer HCT116 cells, including genes that regulate cell metabolism, proliferation, and immune response.
  • The study also highlighted the potential of NDV-based engineered oncolytic viruses as a treatment for colonic carcinoma.

Statistics:

  • 17% of people worldwide will develop cancer by 2025 (source: WHO).
  • Colonic carcinoma represents 9.7% of all cancer cases (source: WHO).
  • Newcastle disease virus (NDV) has a killing effect on various tumor cells, including human colon cancer HCT116 cells.
  • Whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screening identified 104 key regulatory factors involved in the interaction between NDV and human colon cancer HCT116 cells.
  • RNA sequencing revealed 23 differentially expressed genes involved in cell metabolism, proliferation, and immune response.

Sources:

  • Genome-Wide Screening Reveals the Oncolytic Mechanism of Newcastle Disease Virus in a Human Colonic Carcinoma Cell Line. Viruses, 2025,17(8):1043. (Viruses - http://www.mdpi.com/journal/viruses). The publisher for Viruses is MDPI AG.
  • Cancer Weekly. September 9, 2025; p 91.