Regulation of p53 in normal cells and cancer cells infected with adenovirases

摘要

Cancer cells are characterized by defects in cell cycle checkpoints that allow cell growth under conditions that would be forbidden in normal cells. Uncontrolled growth results in apoptosis: tumors therefore contain mutations in genes involved in regulating apoptosis and survival. Cells infected with adenoviruses are remarkably similar to to cancer cells in many ways: they lack cell cycle checkpoints, and they suppress apoptosis through several mechanisms. Based on these similarities, we have devised an approach to cancer therapy in which viruses are engineered so that their host range in restricted to tumor cells. One such virus, ONYX-015 is currently undergoing clinical testing. Here I summarize the principles behind this approach.