Posted on 07/09/2007 10:36:52 AM PDT by kellynla
A genetically engineered herpes virus, designed to kill cancer cells but leave normal tissue unharmed, has shown early promise in clinical tests, scientists said on Saturday.
The idea of injecting cancer patients with a live virus may seem bizarre, but researchers believe viruses — which are experts at killing cells — could one day become a valuable addition to the medical armory against cancer.
The latest progress in a small study using MediGene AG’s virus NV1020 was presented at the annual European Society for Medical Oncology conference in Lugano, Switzerland.
NV1020 is a modified version of the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores. Its genetic make-up has been altered that so it only replicates in cancer cells, killing them in the process, and leaves ordinary cells alone.
The German biotech company had already announced positive results from an interim analysis of a 13-patient Phase I/II study of NV1020 in September, but efficacy data from a case study was unveiled for the first time at the Swiss meeting.
Axel Mescheder, MediGene’s research head, described the case of one very late-stage patient whose cancer had spread to 10 different places around the liver and four in the lungs.
He was given four weekly infusions of the virus followed by two cycles of chemotherapy, and six months after treatment scans showed that his liver tumors had nearly disappeared. The patient survived for 12 months following the intervention.
"The reduction in the tumor masses was really impressive in this patient. The hepatic (liver) masses almost disappeared,” Mescheder said in a statement.
"The results are really quite encouraging at this early stage.”
Treating cancer in the liver is notoriously difficult, and the prognosis for patients is very poor. Many people with colorectal cancer, in particular, face the risk that their cancer will metastasize, or spread, to the liver.
The encouraging results with the virus in early human studies follow tests in animals, which showed that NV1020 was effective at killing colorectal and liver cancer cells.
© Reuters 2007. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters.
“Doctors remain the number one cause of accidental death in America don’t they?”
birth is the #1 cause of death. ;)
Of great interest to my ex-brother in-law. He doesn’t have cancer.
Doing a little inoculating, was he?
lol touche’
Ha, ha! Yes he was. Got divorced over it too!
My sister-in-law finished her chemo about two months ago. Her latest MRI shows her to be tumor free. She is 78 and her greatest concern is not being able to care for her husband, who was, at least for a short time, suffering fainting spells. A recent family get-together was a very happy affair given the good news.
When a person is nearing 80, an extra year can look pretty good, depending on the presumed quality of life.
Herpes is good for ya!
Nothing in the article said anything about the lung tumors.
He could have died from any number of opportunistic afflictions, or sepsis, or staph, or...well, you get the idea.
The lung tumors sound problematic. If even one was small cell, which is inoperable, then I’d say the 12-month delay of death was a pretty good trial.
A lot more work needs to be done, of course, but it does sound promising.
CA....
Damm. clinton’s gonna live forever!
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