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Replication‐selective tumor‐specific viruses represent a novel approach for treating neoplastic diseases. These vectors are designed to induce virus‐mediated lysis of tumor cells after selective intracellular virus propagation. For targeting cancer cells, the use of tissue‐ or cell‐specific promoters that are expressed in diverse tumor types but silent in normal cells is required. Human telomerase is highly active in more than 85% of primary cancers, regardless of tissue origin, and its activity is closely correlated with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression. We constructed an attenuated adenovirus 5 vector (telomelysin,  OBP ‐301) in which the  hTERT  promoter element drives expression of E1 genes. As only tumor cells that express the telomerase can activate this promoter, the  hTERT  proximal promoter allows for preferential expression of viral genes in tumor cells, leading to selective viral replication and oncolytic cell death. Upon  US  Food and Drug Administration approval, a phase 1 dose‐escalation study of intratumoral injection of telomelysin for various solid tumors has been completed to confirm the safety, tolerability, and feasibility of the agent. Moreover, we found that adenoviral E1B 55‐ kD a protein in telomelysin inhibits the radiation‐induced  DNA  repair machinery. Thus, tumor cells infected with telomelysin could be rendered sensitive to ionizing radiation. Recently, we assessed the safety and efficacy of intratumoral injection of telomelysin with radiotherapy in esophageal cancer patients not suited for standard treatments. This review highlights some very promising clinical advances in cancer therapeutic technologies using telomerase‐specific oncolytic virotherapy.

Multidisciplinary oncolytic virotherapy for gastrointestinal cancer