Title:Adenovirus Vectors for Gene Therapy, Vaccination and Cancer Gene Therapy
VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 6
Author(s):William S.M. Wold and Karoly Toth
Affiliation:Saint Louis University School of Medicine, Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology, 1100 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63104. USA.
Keywords:Adenovirus, replication-defective, oncolytic, cancer gene therapy, vaccines, safe and well-tolerated.
Abstract:Adenovirus vectors are the most commonly employed vector for cancer gene therapy. They are also used for
gene therapy and as vaccines to express foreign antigens. Adenovirus vectors can be replication-defective; certain essential
viral genes are deleted and replaced by a cassette that expresses a foreign therapeutic gene. Such vectors are used for
gene therapy, as vaccines, and for cancer therapy. Replication-competent (oncolytic) vectors are employed for cancer gene
therapy. Oncolytic vectors are engineered to replicate preferentially in cancer cells and to destroy cancer cells through the
natural process of lytic virus replication. Many clinical trials indicate that replication-defective and replication-competent
adenovirus vectors are safe and have therapeutic activity.
