Scientists at Oxford University are all set to begin trials that will attempt to use the cold virus to fight cancer. These viruses will be equipped with a special coat so as to avoid detection by the immune system, thus killing only the cancerous cells and sparing the healthy ones.
The study, being supported by Cancer Research UK, will begin later this year and attempt to destroy liver cancer cells by using altered cold viruses. While earlier studies have documented the ability of viruses to kill tumors, it must be noted that such methods are rendered useless if the cancer has spread extensively.
This is because the previous methods worked by injecting the viruses directly into the tumors. Professor Leonard Seymour, the lead researcher of the present project, hopes to overcome this issue by allowing the altered viruses to home in on the tumors.
“In principle, you've got something which could be many times more effective than regular chemotherapy,” said Professor Seymour. He added that the viruses were chemically modified so as to escape detection by the body's immune system.
Initial research on mice has proved successful in combating tumors that are resistant to anti-cancer drugs. However extensive trials are needed before the research becomes viable.
"Whilst this approach is still at an early stage of development it has exciting potential, particularly for the treatment of cancer which has spread - a notoriously difficult stage of the disease to treat," observed Dr Richard Sullivan, director of clinical programmes at Cancer Research UK.
