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

Tanner M Tessier; Mackenzie J Dodge; Katelyn M MacNeil; Andris M Evans; Martin A Prusinkiewicz; Joe S Mymryk

doi:10.1016/j.tvr.2021.200225

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

Tumour Virus Res. 2021 Dec:12:200225. doi: 10.1016/j.tvr.2021.200225. Epub 2021 Sep 6.

Authors

Tanner M Tessier¹, Mackenzie J Dodge¹, Katelyn M MacNeil¹, Andris M Evans¹, Martin A Prusinkiewicz¹, Joe S Mymryk²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
² Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Department of Oncology, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; London Regional Cancer Program, Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON, Canada. Electronic address: jmymryk@uwo.ca.

Abstract

Papillomaviruses, polyomaviruses and adenoviruses are collectively categorized as the small DNA tumour viruses. Notably, human adenoviruses were the first human viruses demonstrated to be able to cause cancer, albeit in non-human animal models. Despite their long history, no human adenovirus is a known causative agent of human cancers, unlike a subset of their more famous cousins, including human papillomaviruses and human Merkel cell polyomavirus. Nevertheless, seminal research using human adenoviruses has been highly informative in understanding the basics of cell cycle control, gene expression, apoptosis and cell differentiation. This review highlights the contributions of human adenovirus research in advancing our knowledge of the molecular basis of cancer.

Keywords: E1A; E1B; E4; Hallmarks of cancer; Human adenovirus; Transformation.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Adenoviridae / genetics
Adenovirus E1A Proteins
Adenovirus E1B Proteins
Adenoviruses, Human* / genetics
Animals
Neoplasms* / therapy

Substances

Adenovirus E1A Proteins
Adenovirus E1B Proteins

Grants and funding

MOP-148689/CIHR/Canada