New cancer treatments could be developed after scientists demonstrated that viruses
could hide from the immune system.
Reoviruses have long been of interest in the fight against cancer as they only
target tumour cells, however, it was thought that they would be killed before
they could be effective.
But now, researchers at University of Leeds and The Institute of Cancer Research
have found that the virus hides by hitchhiking on the back of blood cells - an
ability which enables them to target cancers unhindered.
Dr Julie Sharp, senior science information manager at Cancer Research UK, which
part-funded the research, said: "This promising study shows that reovirus
can trick the body’s defences to reach and kill cancer cells and suggests that
it could be given to patients using a simple injection.
She added that if this research is now developed then, viral treatment could become
part of standard cancer treatment in the future.
According to the charity, around 850 people are diagnosed with cancer every day
in the UK.
© Adfero Ltd
Cancer treatment news : 18 June 2012
