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Updated: Oct 21, 2025

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Almost famous: Human adenoviruses (and what they have taught us about cancer)

Tanner M Tessier1, Mackenzie J Dodge1, Katelyn M MacNeil1

  • 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.

Tumour Virus Research
|September 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Human adenoviruses, though not causing human cancers, were key in understanding cancer's molecular basis. Research on these small DNA tumor viruses advanced knowledge of cell cycle, gene expression, and apoptosis.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Virology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Small DNA tumor viruses include papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses, and adenoviruses.
  • Human adenoviruses were the first demonstrated to cause cancer in animal models.
  • Unlike some related viruses, no human adenovirus is a known human carcinogen.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the significant contributions of human adenovirus research to understanding the molecular basis of cancer.
  • To highlight how studying adenoviruses has informed fundamental cancer biology.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of seminal research on human adenoviruses.
  • Analysis of studies focusing on adenovirus interactions with host cell machinery.
  • Synthesis of findings related to cell cycle control, gene expression, apoptosis, and differentiation.

Main Results:

  • Human adenovirus research provided foundational insights into key cancer-related cellular processes.
  • Studies elucidated basic mechanisms of cell cycle regulation and gene expression.
  • Adenovirus research significantly advanced understanding of apoptosis and cell differentiation pathways.

Conclusions:

  • Human adenoviruses, despite not being direct human carcinogens, have been instrumental in cancer research.
  • The study of adenoviruses has profoundly impacted our understanding of cancer's molecular underpinnings.
  • Continued investigation into viral oncogenesis remains crucial for cancer biology.
Keywords:
E1AE1BE4Hallmarks of cancerHuman adenovirusTransformation

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