A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Reduction of angiogenesis in chorioallantoic membrane xenografted hepatocellular carcinomas by treatment with a decorin-expressing herpes simplex virus vector
Authors: Frejborg, Fanny; Koivisto, Oliver; Huttunen, Roope; Rosenholm, Jessica M.; Zhang, Hongbo; Järveläinen, Hannu; Hukkanen, Veijo
Publication year: 2026
Journal: Virology Journal
eISSN: 1743-422X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-026-03162-w
Publication's open availability at the time of reporting: Open Access
Publication channel's open availability : Open Access publication channel
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-026-03162-w
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/523107626
Self-archived copy's licence: CC BY
Self-archived copy's version: Publisher`s PDF
Decorin is a proteoglycan that suppresses tumor growth and angiogenesis. We studied whether our recently constructed decorin-expressing herpes simplex virus (HSV) vector can reduce angiogenesis in xenografted liver carcinoma cells in the chorioallantoic membrane model. The vascularized tumors were treated with an overlay dose of our vector. The results show that the treatment reduced angiogenesis in the tumors by 60% (p = 0.005) four days after treatment, suggesting that decorin-expressing HSV vectors are a promising strategy for novel cancer therapies.
Funding information in the publication:
F. F. would like to thank Åbo Akademi University Graduate School for personal funding in the form of PhD salary. The authors would further like to thank the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation (#170046), Satasairaala Central Hospital, The Wellbeing Services County of Satakunta, Cancer Foundation of Southwestern Finland, State of Finland Research Fund (VTR), Research Council of Finland (project numbers #337531, #347897, #353146), Sigrid Jusélius foundation, The Paulo Foundation and Turku University foundation for funding this project. This research is also aligned with the strategic research profiling area “Solutions for Health” at Åbo Akademi University (funded by the Research Council of Finland, #336355).
