title: Chapter four--Design of improved oncolytic adenoviruses.
abstract: During the last decade adenovirus has lost its appeal in gene therapy due to a high immunogenicity that leads to a transient gene expression. However, adenovirus has gained attention as replication-competent vector to treat cancer. Designed for virotherapy, adenovirus has been successfully modified to replicate selectively in tumor cells. After the initial clinical trials with tumor-selective adenoviruses, it has become clear that further improvements on tumor targeting, intratumoral dissemination, and modulation of antiviral and antitumor immune responses are needed to effectively treat cancer. The non-viral delivery of infectious DNA encoding an oncolytic adenovirus armed with extracellular matrix-degrading genes and with genes that regulate the immune system to favor antitumor instead of antiviral immunity are key in the design oncolytic adenovirus.
authors.affiliation: Translational Research Laboratory, Institut Català d'Oncologia-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. ralemany@iconcologia.net
authors.forename: Ramon
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alemany
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System; D009154:Mutation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D050504:Oncolytic Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004279:DNA, Viral