Hopeful illustration of combined Delta-24-RGD and radiotherapy for DIPG treatment.

Can a Modified Virus and Radiotherapy Be the New Dynamic Duo Against DIPG?

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Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 5 min read.

"Combining Delta-24-RGD with radiotherapy shows promise in tackling this aggressive childhood brain tumor, offering a beacon of hope for improved treatment strategies."


Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) stands as one of the most formidable challenges in pediatric oncology. This aggressive brain tumor infiltrates the pons, a critical area of the brainstem, making surgical removal nearly impossible. Radiotherapy, while offering temporary relief and improved quality of life, unfortunately, doesn't provide a long-term solution, with tumor relapse occurring within months.

In the relentless pursuit of more effective treatments, researchers are exploring innovative strategies that can overcome the limitations of current approaches. One such avenue involves harnessing the power of virotherapy, specifically using modified adenoviruses to selectively target and destroy cancer cells. Delta-24-RGD is one such virus that has shown promise in early clinical trials against adult gliomas.

Now, a new study investigates the potential of combining Delta-24-RGD with radiotherapy in the fight against DIPG. This article will break down the findings, exploring how this combination could offer a new therapeutic avenue for children battling this devastating disease, answering key questions about its efficacy and safety.

Delta-24-RGD: A Virus with a Mission

Hopeful illustration of combined Delta-24-RGD and radiotherapy for DIPG treatment.

Delta-24-RGD is a genetically engineered adenovirus designed to selectively infect and destroy cancer cells while sparing healthy tissue. Its mechanism of action is multi-pronged: it replicates within tumor cells, leading to their lysis (destruction), and it also triggers an immune response that further contributes to tumor cell death. The 'RGD' modification enhances the virus's ability to bind to integrins, proteins that are often overexpressed on the surface of tumor cells, thereby increasing its targeting efficiency.

Researchers sought to determine if Delta-24-RGD could be an effective weapon against DIPG, both on its own and in combination with radiotherapy. Their investigation involved several key steps:

  • In Vitro Studies: The researchers tested the effects of Delta-24-RGD on DIPG cell lines in the laboratory, measuring its ability to kill cancer cells. They also examined whether combining the virus with radiotherapy would enhance its anti-tumor activity.
  • Mechanistic Analysis: To understand how Delta-24-RGD works, the researchers investigated its effects on key proteins involved in DNA repair, which are often implicated in resistance to radiotherapy.
  • In Vivo Safety Studies: The safety of Delta-24-RGD was assessed by injecting the virus into mice bearing DIPG tumors and monitoring for any signs of toxicity.
The results of their experiments revealed a compelling picture. Delta-24-RGD exhibited a potent anti-glioma effect, effectively killing DIPG cells in vitro. Moreover, the combination of Delta-24-RGD with radiotherapy resulted in a synergistic effect, meaning that the combined treatment was more effective than either treatment alone. Mechanistically, the virus was found to inhibit key proteins involved in DNA repair, potentially overcoming the resistance of DIPG cells to radiotherapy. Importantly, the in vivo safety studies showed no evidence of toxicity associated with intratumoral delivery of Delta-24-RGD.

A Promising Path Forward

This research provides compelling evidence that Delta-24-RGD, in combination with radiotherapy, holds significant promise as a novel therapeutic strategy for DIPG. The virus's ability to selectively target and destroy DIPG cells, coupled with its synergistic interaction with radiotherapy and lack of observed toxicity in animal models, warrants further investigation in clinical trials.

While these findings are encouraging, it's important to acknowledge that this research is still in its early stages. Further studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this combined approach in humans. Clinical trials are essential to determine the optimal dosage and delivery method of Delta-24-RGD, as well as to identify potential side effects.

Nevertheless, this research offers a beacon of hope for children and families affected by DIPG. By combining the power of virotherapy with conventional radiotherapy, researchers may be one step closer to developing more effective and less toxic treatments for this devastating disease. This innovative approach underscores the importance of continued research and collaboration in the fight against childhood cancer.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

Everything You Need To Know

1

What exactly is Delta-24-RGD and how does it work to fight cancer?

Delta-24-RGD is a specially engineered adenovirus. It's designed to target and destroy cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. It achieves this by replicating inside tumor cells, causing them to break down. Furthermore, it triggers an immune response, boosting the destruction of tumor cells. The 'RGD' part of its name refers to a modification that helps it bind to proteins called integrins, which are often found in large quantities on the surface of tumor cells. This increases its ability to target tumors effectively.

2

What steps did researchers take to investigate the effectiveness of Delta-24-RGD against DIPG?

The research team conducted in vitro studies, mechanistic analysis, and in vivo safety studies. In vitro studies tested Delta-24-RGD's ability to kill DIPG cell lines, alone or combined with radiotherapy. Mechanistic analysis explored its impact on DNA repair proteins, crucial for radiotherapy resistance. In vivo safety studies monitored for toxicity in mice with DIPG tumors after injecting Delta-24-RGD.

3

How is radiotherapy currently used in treating DIPG, and what are its limitations?

Radiotherapy is a treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. In the context of DIPG, it's used to provide temporary relief and improve the quality of life for patients. However, radiotherapy alone doesn't offer a long-term solution, as the tumor often returns within months. The hope is that combining it with Delta-24-RGD will provide a more effective, lasting treatment.

4

What were the key findings of the study regarding the combination of Delta-24-RGD and radiotherapy?

The study showed that Delta-24-RGD effectively killed DIPG cells in the lab. More importantly, when Delta-24-RGD was combined with radiotherapy, the effect was synergistic, meaning the combination was more effective than either treatment alone. Researchers found that the virus inhibited key proteins involved in DNA repair, potentially overcoming the resistance of DIPG cells to radiotherapy. Also, the in vivo safety studies showed no signs of toxicity associated with the delivery of Delta-24-RGD.

5

What are the implications of these findings, and what are the next steps in exploring this potential treatment strategy further?

The findings suggest that Delta-24-RGD, when used with radiotherapy, has the potential to be a new and effective treatment for DIPG. The virus can selectively target and destroy DIPG cells, and it works well with radiotherapy. Since no toxicity was observed in animal models, clinical trials are warranted to confirm that Delta-24-RGD, combined with radiotherapy, could significantly improve outcomes for children facing this challenging diagnosis. Additional work should investigate the optimal dosage and timing of Delta-24-RGD administration in conjunction with radiotherapy to maximize therapeutic efficacy.

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