Cidofovir treatment improves the pathology caused by the growth of human papillomavirus-positive cervical carcinoma xenografts in athymic nude mice

Cidofovir has shown antiproliferative effects against human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive cells and successfully suppressed the growth of HPV-positive xenografts in athymic nude mice. The present study evaluated the effect of cidofovir on several disease parameters in this animal model.Intratumoral administration of cidofovir resulted in a beneficial effect on body weight gain, a reduction in splenomegaly, a partial restoration of tryptophan catabolism, and diminished the inflammatory state induced by the xenografts. Administration of cidofovir to tumor-free animals did not have a direct effect on these parameters.Beyond suppressing tumor growth, intratumoral treatment with cidofovir ameliorated the pathology associated with HPV-tumor growth.

► Intratumoral CDV suppressed tumor growth in a cervical carcinoma xenograft model.
► Inflammatory response and xenograft pathology were improved by intratumoral CDV.
► Reduction in tumor size by CDV correlated with effects on inflammatory response.
► Inflammatory response in tumor-free animals was not affected by CDV.