"The use of a self-replicating virus to treat cancer might be a last-ditch attempt after other treatments haven't worked," said Van den Pol. The exact mechanism the virus uses to track down and destroy cancer cells is still unknown. Van den Pol suspects the absence of interferon, an antiviral chemical produced by normal cells but not cancer cells, allows the virus to infect and replicate inside tumor cells. Using viruses to destroy tumors is not a new idea. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have been working on virus-based cancer treatments for years. Two years ago a team lead by Steven Forsyth at the University of Calgary used VSV against brain tumors and had similar results. While the Yale researchers focused on the worst kinds of brain tumors, scientists speculate that an adapted virus could attack other kinds of cancer and are hopeful that it will eventually be approved for use in humans. "You are dealing with 25,000 patients each year who have no hope," said Harald Sontheimer, a neurobiologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham who was not involved in the research. "Radiation prolongs life some, surgery does somewhat, and chemotherapy is not effective. Any research that takes a new tack is exciting." The research is published in the Feb. 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. The research is published in the Feb. 20, 2008 issue of the Journal of Neuroscience. Related Links: |
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