Conditionally replicative adenoviruses for ovarian cancer therapy

The purpose of this review article is to present a logical rationale for the investigation of conditionally replicative adenoviral vectors for the treatment of ovarian carcinoma. A medline database search was performed to identify relevant articles in the English language for the years 1966 to present. The key words used included replicative adenovirus, conditionally replicative adenovirus, transcriptional targeting, replication selective adenovirus, and "ONYX." A total of 89 references were identified and reviewed. Each reference was reviewed for relevance to clinical translation of conditionally replicative adenoviral vector therapy for ovarian cancer. Data from current clinical trials would suggest that potential obstacles for effective replicative viral therapy of ovarian carcinoma include efficient tumor cell infection, restrictions of the cell surface coxsackie and adenovirus receptor, rapid clearance of vector in the ascites environment, tumor cells specificity, and limitations of current findings of clinical trials. The articles were, therefore, evaluated and included if they addressed these shortcomings. Current data would suggest that advanced generation conditionally replicative adenoviral vectors will soon be available for clinical trials in ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer, because of expression of targetable receptors, transducible cells, and containment within the i.p. cavity, represents a solid tumor suited uniquely for investigation with advanced generation conditionally replicative adenoviral vectors.