'Anti-cancer virus' shows promise'

• Lan wrote on 2011-09-04 03:31

  An engineered virus, injected into the blood, can selectively target cancer cells throughout the body in what researchers have labelled a medical first.
  
  The virus attacked only tumours, leaving the healthy tissue alone, in a small trial on 23 patients, according to the journal Nature.
  
  Researchers said the findings could one day "truly transform" therapies.
  
  Cancer specialists said using viruses showed "real promise".
  
  Using viruses to attack cancers is not a new concept, but they have needed to be injected directly into tumours in order to evade the immune system.
  
  Smallpox to cancer
  Scientists modified the vaccinia virus, which is more famous for being used to develop a smallpox vaccine.
  
  The virus, named JX-594, is dependent upon a chemical pathway, common in some cancers, in order to replicate.
  
  It was injected at different doses into the blood of 23 patients with cancers which had spread to multiple organs in the body.
  
  In the eight patients receiving the highest dose, seven had the virus replicating in their tumours, but not in healthy tissue.
  
  Prof John Bell, lead researcher and from the University of Ottawa, said: "We are very excited because this is the first time in medical history that a viral therapy has been shown to consistently and selectively replicate in cancer tissue after intravenous infusion in humans.
  
  "Intravenous delivery is crucial for cancer treatment because it allows us to target tumours throughout the body as opposed to just those that we can directly inject."
  
  Infection prevented further tumour growth in six patients for a time. However, the virus did not cure cancer. Patients were given only one dose of the virus as the trial was designed to test the safety of the virus.
  
  It is thought that the virus could be used to deliver treatments directly to cancerous cells in high concentrations.
  
  Prof Bell acknowledges that the research is still in the very early stages, but he said: "I believe that some day, viruses and other biological therapies could truly transform our approach for treating cancer."
  
  Cancer Research UK's Prof Nick Lemoine, also director of Barts Cancer Institute, said: "Viruses that multiply in just tumour cells - avoiding healthy cells - are showing real promise as a new biological approach to target hard-to-treat cancers.
  
  "This new study is important because it shows that a virus previously used safely to vaccinate against smallpox in millions of people can now be modified to reach cancers through the bloodstream - even after cancer has spread widely through the patient's body.
  
  "It is particularly encouraging that responses were seen even in tumours like mesothelioma, a cancer which can be particularly hard to treat."

  
  
  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-14730608
  
  If this works then great, if not OH shi-
• Moppy wrote on 2011-09-04 03:34
  This will either stop cancer or make us all zombies.
  
  I'm psyched either way.
• Phunkie wrote on 2011-09-04 03:38
  Go Medicine!
• Lan wrote on 2011-09-04 03:39

  Quote from Phunkie;576763:

  Go Medicine!

  
  
  Medicine? This is biological engineering! Dangerous stuff.
• Cynic wrote on 2011-09-04 03:41

  Quote from God;576757:

  This will either stop cancer or make us all zombies.
  
  I'm psyched either way.

  
  
  ^ My thoughts.
• ZazieTheBeast wrote on 2011-09-04 03:42
  sounds like the begining of every zombie movie ive seen
  
  goes out to buy some guns and a dog named sam
• chaolin wrote on 2011-09-04 03:46
  Very cool! The group I'm with worked on some anti-cancer compounds called Cortistatins in the past that in essence, "...inhibits the proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells." This seems to be more effective, however, since viruses are more selective and widespread in the body. I imagine that future cancer treatments will involve multiple aspects similar to present-day HIV drug cocktails. Regardless, any anti-cancer treatment is welcomed in my book :)
• ashkanz wrote on 2011-09-04 03:48

  Quote from God;576757:

  This will either stop cancer or make us all zombies.
  
  I'm psyched either way.

  
  Exactly what i was thinking.
• Skye wrote on 2011-09-04 05:21
  inb4 I Am Legend.
• MareneCorp wrote on 2011-09-04 05:26

  Quote from Skye;577077:

  inb4 I Am Legend.

  
  
  I loved that movie. I still think about it now and then. It's so sad he had to die, but then he wouldn't be a legend. :(
  
  Edit: Oh, @Zazie, the dog's name was Samantha.
• Episkey wrote on 2011-09-04 05:31
  Oh this is interesting! I hope it works out, and they better do ALOT of testing. I mean alot.
  
  I just played all 3 Trauma Center games for the Wii recently.
  As a result, when I read the article the only thing I could think about was GUILT and STIGMA.
  
  I don't want Kyriaki in my lungs :scare:
• Arsik wrote on 2011-09-04 06:55
  Okay, from what I see from this:
  
  1. Person takes whatever to contract PanNET, which will extend their lives in exchange for having pancreatic cancer
  
  2. Person makes use of this virus to eliminate the cancer, while hoping that it doesn't affect the positive effects of said cancer (eg. extended lives)
  
  3. ???
  
  4. PROFIT!
  
  
  Though if this actually gets approved by the FDA, then it'll definitely be a huge turning point in the medical field, and if they manage to mass produce it enough, it'll be an affordable way to get rid of cancer.
• Kazuni wrote on 2011-09-04 06:59
  If the protein or whatever the virus needs is in "high concentration" in cancer cells, doesn't that imply regular cells would have it too? So if it should ever destroy cancer cells instead of preventing growth, wouldn't it go on to destroy healthy cells, too?
• BobYoMeowMeow wrote on 2011-09-04 07:16
  people would be more excited for AIDs cure
• Cynic wrote on 2011-09-04 07:20

  Quote from BobYoMeowMeow;577351:

  people would be more excited for AIDs cure

  
  
  'Cept AIDs isn't a death-sentence anymore, whereas cancer still is.