Decorin Expressed From Herpes Simplex Virus Vector Improves Oncolytic Efficacy in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Decorin (DCN) is a small extracellular proteoglycan with significant oncosuppressive activity. Lung adenocarcinoma is commonly devoid of DCN expression and is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally. As a proof‐of‐concept study for evaluating the oncosuppressive potential of DCN expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells, we constructed an oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1) vector, with a DCN transgene, using a transfection‐infection method. Treatment of the lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 with this novel DCN‐expressing HSV‐1 vector led to a significantly increased oncolysis of the cells compared to the effect of the parental or control marker virus. These results support the further development of a DCN‐expressing oncolytic HSV‐1 for evaluation in in vivo models for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma, as well as other types of cancers with underexpressed DCN.