Harnessing viruses as cancer therapeutics
06 August 2007 - It is widely known that viruses can promote the onset of malignancies. However, in a twist of fate Richard Dawkins would be proud of, current research is hoping that these poisonous particles can be turned from foe to friend to aid the fight against cancer.
In the past few decades there have been a number of anecdotal reports of viral infections causing disease remission in cancer patients. Dr Kevin Harrington, Team Leader of The Institute’s Targeted Therapy Team says that recently these reports have been turned from old wives’ hear’ say into bone fide clinical data.
In collaboration with internal and external colleagues, Dr Harrington’s team has successfully completed a Phase I trial of an oncolytic virus that kills cells with mutations to RAS; one of the most commonly affected genes in human cancers. Further Phase I trials are slated for 2007, along with separate trials for a genetically-engineered herpes simplex virus (cold sore virus) which is able to stimulate the entire immune system as well as kill cancer cells directly.
Eventually it is hoped that viral therapies will be merged with existing cancer treatments, the most promising combination currently involving radiotherapy. Laboratory studies at The Institute have confirmed improved rates of tumour death when radiotherapy is combined with viral treatment. "Results have led to radiotherapy/viral clinical studies at The Royal Marsden and, so far, escalating doses of virus and radiation have been shown to be safe and to have an effect against the tumour in some patients", revealed Dr Harrington.
Read more about Dr Harrington's recent work on viruses in The Institute's Annual Research Report 2006.
Find out more about Dr Harrington's research at The Institute.
