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Updated: Jun 10, 2026

A Bioluminescent and Fluorescent Orthotopic Syngeneic Murine Model of Androgen-dependent and Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer
Published on: March 6, 2018
Adenovirus-based therapy for prostate cancer
1Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Centre, Centre for Molecular Oncology and Imaging, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Charterhouse Square, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK.
Abstract:
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the Western world, despite efforts toward improving treatment strategies and earlier detection of this disease. A promising and relatively novel drug platform is virotherapy, which has demonstrated potent and selective antitumor efficacy in cancer cell lines and in preclinical in vivo tumor models, accompanied by minimal toxicity to normal cells. Safety and limited toxicity has also been demonstrated in many clinical trials targeting various solid cancers. Results from early-stage trials in patients with hormone-refractory prostate cancers have revealed potential efficacy following intraprostatic or intravenous delivery of replication-selective oncolytic viruses in combination with chemotherapeutics or radiation therapy. This review describes the most promising developments in virotherapy for prostate cancer, focusing on replication-selective adenoviral mutants as multimodal therapeutic agents.
Insights
Virotherapy shows promise for treating prostate cancer, a leading cause of male cancer deaths. This approach uses oncolytic viruses, like adenoviral mutants, with minimal toxicity for effective cancer treatment.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Virology
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Prostate cancer remains a significant cause of cancer-related mortality in men.
- Current treatments face challenges in efficacy and toxicity.
- Virotherapy offers a novel, targeted approach to cancer treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review advancements in virotherapy for prostate cancer.
- To highlight the potential of replication-selective adenoviral mutants.
- To discuss virotherapy as a multimodal therapeutic strategy.
Main Methods:
- Focus on replication-selective oncolytic viruses, particularly adenoviral mutants.
- Review of preclinical studies in cell lines and in vivo models.
- Analysis of early-stage clinical trial data for prostate cancer.
Main Results:
- Virotherapy demonstrates potent and selective antitumor activity.
- Oncolytic viruses show minimal toxicity to normal cells.
- Early trials indicate potential efficacy in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Conclusions:
- Virotherapy, especially with adenoviral mutants, is a promising strategy for prostate cancer.
- Combination therapies enhance the efficacy of virotherapy.
- Further research and clinical trials are warranted to optimize treatment outcomes.
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