Posted on 06/21/2005 3:53:57 PM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
A common virus that is harmless to people can destroy cancerous cells in the body and might be developed into a new cancer therapy, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.
The virus, called adeno-associated virus type 2, or AAV-2, infects an estimated 80 percent of the population.
"Our results suggest that adeno-associated virus type 2, which infects the majority of the population but has no known ill effects, kills multiple types of cancer cells yet has no effect on healthy cells," said Craig Meyers, a professor of microbiology and immunology at the Penn State College of Medicine in Pennsylvania.
"We believe that AAV-2 recognizes that the cancer cells are abnormal and destroys them. This suggests that AAV-2 has great potential to be developed as an anti-cancer agent," Meyers said in a statement.
He said at a meeting of the American Society for Virology that studies have shown women infected with AAV-2 who are also infected with a cancer-causing wart virus called HPV develop cervical cancer less frequently than uninfected women do.
AAV-2 is a small virus that cannot replicate itself without the help of another virus. But with the help of a second virus it kills cells.
For their study, Meyers and colleagues first infected a batch of human cells with HPV, some strains of which cause cervical cancer.
They then infected these cells and normal cells with AAV-2.
After six days, all the HPV-infected cells died.
The same thing happened with cervical, breast, prostate and squamous cell tumor cells.
All are cancers of the epithelial cells, which include skin cells and other cells that line the insides and outsides of organs.
"One of the most compelling findings is that AAV-2 appears to have no pathologic effects on healthy cells," Meyers said.
"So many cancer therapies are as poisonous to healthy cells as they are to cancer cells. A therapy that is able to distinguish between healthy and cancer cells could be less difficult to endure for those with cancer."
AAV-2 is being studied intensively as a gene therapy vector -- a virus modified to carry disease-correcting genes into the body. Gene therapy researchers favor it because it does not seem to cause disease or immune system reaction on its own.
Alright, I can continue my 4 pack a day habit!
This could have huge implications for HIV as well. Having already proven its effectiveness against HPV, HIV seems a logical follow-on candidate.
But then again, maybe the "V" in HIV has been a misnomer...
R3
if you find anyway to get a hold of this virus to take it, please let me know.
I predict this will "go away" and never be heard about again. The ramifications of actually having a cancer "cure" are huge. The drug industry, the medical industry...huge hit. I don't think the gov't wants a cure, or there would already be one.
There is always hope. Viruses are such peculiar things, they could be keys to many revelations. That's something worth praying for, that our researchers find the keys.
Wait until they find out it causes heart disease.
I disagree. The business of treating cancer is huge, and finding a cure would render a large portion of our drug/medical professionals/companies irrelevant. This would result in an enormous negative effect on the economy. My tin foil hat is firmly in place, whether you believe me moronic or not. The bottom line counts.
More like, one is a request for government research grants, and the other is hype to draw in private investment dollars.
Sounds great.
But, let's keep in mind it was only a study of 8.
However, what I am waiting for is a gene therapy/drug therapy based on a unusal gene an Italian (I think) family has that essentially makes them immune to heart disease no matter what they do and eat.
It is amazing. I forgot what it is called, but we are still waiting for that to be made into a drug to virtually end completely the heart disease menace.
The cure would be a boon to the economy since every other country would need it, too.
ping
Will do philsfan24. So far I have not come across anything on the internet. I see my oncologist next week and see what I can dig up there.
You may be interested in this, I am participating in a phase 3 double-blind study for a drug currently numbered U-2901 (trade name is Provigil or Modafinil). This study is conducted by Gulf Coast MBCCOP. This drug fights the effects of fatigue caused by various chemotherapy drugs. It has not been approved but it works!
I still have side-effects but now I feel like working in the garden and walking a mile daily. If you need further info contact me via private reply and I'll do the same with this virus study. Have a great day.
AAV-2 Ping!
It is looking more and more like they will have highly effective treatments against many of the regular forms of cancer very soon.
And with the coming battle over Codex, we might not be able to get them even if it is little more than an ordinary weed or virus.
I'm still reading some real interesting stuff about Graviola, if it turns out it really works, but the drug companies sat on it because they couldn't synthesize it, it would be one of the greatest crimes humanity ever saw.
interesting resource bump
Holy cow!
If upwards of 80% of the population has this virus, why is cancer found in such a high percentage of the population (higher than 20%)?
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