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. 2017 Apr;28(4):323-327.
doi: 10.1089/hum.2016.147. Epub 2016 Nov 10.

AAV Infection: Protection from Cancer

Arun Srivastava  1 , Barrie J Carter  2
Affiliations

AAV Infection: Protection from Cancer

Arun Srivastava et al. Hum Gene Ther. 2017 Apr.

Abstract

There are conflicting reports that integration of the wild-type adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) genome is associated with induction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a small subset of patients. However, there are several lines of evidence that contradict this assertion: (i) AAV2 has long been known to be a non-pathogenic virus, although ∼90% of the human population is seropositive for AAV2 antibodies; (ii) AAV2 has been shown to possess anticancer activity; (iii) epidemiological evidence suggests that AAV2 infection plays a protective role against cervical carcinoma; and (iv) five different AAV serotype vectors (AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV8, and AAV9) have been or are currently being used in 162 Phase I/II clinical trials and one Phase III clinical trial in humans to date, and no cancer of any type has ever been observed or reported. A brief historical account of the putative role of infection by AAV in the etiology of cancer, or lack thereof, is presented.

Keywords: DNA integration; liver cancer; recombinant AAV vectors; wild-type AAV2.

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Conflict of interest statement

A.S. holds issued patents related to AAV vectors that have been licensed to various AAV gene therapy companies. No competing financial interests exist for B.J.C.

Comment in

References

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