NEW ANTIVIRAL COMPOUNDS AND IMPACT IN MANAGEMENT OF NEOPLASTIC DISEASE AND AIDS

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1988. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

NEW ANTIVIRAL COMPOUNDS AND IMPACT IN MANAGEMENT OF NEOPLASTIC DISEASE AND AIDS

Cancer Treat Res; 36:205-32 1987. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ICDB/88640254
Chachoua A; Green M; NYU Medical Center, 550 First Ave., New York, NY 10016

Abstract: The recent discovery of a retrovirus termed HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), HTLV-III (human T-lymphotropic virus type III), or LAV (lymphadenopathy-associated virus) and the consequent development of an antibody assay have clearly implicated this virus as the etiologic agent of the acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This has renewed interest in antiviral agents and has led to the rapid expansion of compounds available for testing. Because of the significant role of herpes viruses and retroviruses in the etiology of human diseases, some of the compounds are reviewed that have gained wide clinical use, as are some newer agents that show promise in the treatment of these viruses. The rationale for the development of antiviral drugs is briefly discussed. The following agents are reviewed: antiherpes agents (purine nucleosides [vidarabine, acyclovir, 8,9-1,3-dihydroxy-2-propoxymethylguanine]; pyrimidine nucleosides [idoxuridine, E-5-2-bromovinyl-2'-deoxyuridine, new pyrimidine analogs]; triazole nucleosides [tiazofurin]), glycosylation inhibitors (2-deoxy-D-glucose), interferons (interferon inducers; pyrimidinones), and antiretroviral agents (ribavirin; phosphonoformate [foscarnet]; suramin; antimoniotungstate [HPA-23]; azidothymidine). Several difficulties arise in treating viruses, mainly because of their obligatory intracellular parasitism and viral nucleic acid incorporation in host cell DNA. For clinical trials, rapid diagnosis allowing early initiation of therapy, quantitative measurement of the antiviral effect, and a better understanding of the pathogenesis and course of viral illness will all contribute to more effective treatment. (144 Refs)

Keywords: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*DRUG THERAPY Animal Antiviral Agents/*THERAPEUTIC USE Deoxyglucose/THERAPEUTIC USE Drug Evaluation Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor Herpes Simplex/DRUG THERAPY Human Interferons/THERAPEUTIC USE Neoplasms/*DRUG THERAPY Structure-Activity Relationship Virus Replication/DRUG EFFECTS JOURNAL ARTICLE

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