300407 VO DNA-Tumor Viruses, from Cancer Agent to therapy (2008W)

DNA tumour viruses play not only an import role as human pathogens causing diseases like cervical cancer but also serve as important tools to elucidate basic mechanisms of cancerogenesis. For example, the tumour suppressor protein p53 was discovered as a cellular protein of 53kDa targeted and inactivated by the large tumour antigen (LT) of the DNA tumour virus SV40. More recently, a novel anti-cancer strategy was developed based on the lytic function of DNA tumour viruses (e.g. ONYX015).
The lecture will include the following topics:
Classification of DNA tumour viruses
Lytic and transformation cycle
Viral oncoproteins and their cellular targets: p53, pRB (the retinoblastoma gene product), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and others
Human Papillomavirus and the development of cervical carcinoma
Cancer therapy with adenovirus mutants