Adenoviral gene therapy in high-grade malignant glioma

Despite advances in surgical techniques, improvement in radiation treatments and chemotherapy, and the addition of new biological agents to the armamentarium, the median survival of patients with high-grade malignant glioma has changed little over recent decades. However, advances in the fundamental understanding of brain tumor biology suggest that targeting molecular pathways underlying carcinogenesis may provide alternative or additional approaches to glioma treatment. Viruses, particularly adenoviruses, have been critical in the application and development of these molecular approaches. Adenoviruses have been engineered to function as vectors for delivering therapeutic genes for gene therapy, and as direct cytotoxic agents for oncolytic viral therapy. The purpose of this review is to provide a prospective on the use of adenoviruses in high-grade malignant glioma therapy.