Engineered oncolytic viruses containing hyper-binding sites to sequester and suppress activity of oncogenic transcription factors as a novel treatment for human cancer

Abstract

In one or more embodiments, the present invention provides novel artificial, non-naturally-occurring double stranded DNA segments (and related methods) capable of acting as decoy binding sites for oncogenic transcription factors and a general method for suppressing aberrant activity of oncogenic transcription factors that promote cancer progression. In various embodiments, the present invention involves the sequestration of targeted oncogenic transcription factors at these artificial, non-naturally occurring engineered transcription factor binding sites, which have been introduced into the cells using oncolytic or other viruses that can be engineered to selectively target cancer cells. These artificial, non-naturally occurring engineered transcription factor binding sites act as decoys for binding so as to competitively sequester oncogenic transcription factors away from the host genomic DNA, thus abolishing or reducing oncogenic transcription factor activity and resulting in restored sensitivity to chemotherapy, increased apoptosis, and reduced cancer cell proliferation.