lentiviral interferon-alpha

Lentiviral interferon-alpha (LV-IFN) is an investigational gene therapy modality being evaluated for the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), particularly in cases unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). Developed through a collaboration involving FKD Therapies and the University of Eastern Finland, LV-IFN utilizes a lentiviral vector to achieve transduction of urothelial cells, leading to the local production of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). This cytokine mediates antitumor effects by binding to the interferon-alpha/beta receptors (IFNAR1/2), triggering signaling pathways that promote apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation, and enhance the local immune response. Preclinical research has identified ErbB pathway activation as a potential resistance mechanism to LV-IFN, suggesting that combination strategies with pan-ErbB inhibitors like afatinib may significantly improve therapeutic outcomes and overall survival.

Other names

LV-IFN gene therapylentiviral-mediated interferon-alpha gene therapy