Scientists have developed a tumour-killing virus that triggers the immune system to hunt and destroy aggressive glioblastoma, boosting patient survival
Scientists have hailed a breakthrough in the fight against deadly brain cancer after developing a genetically engineered virus that hunts and destroys tumours. In a major leap forward for medicine, experts have found a way to crack the armour of glioblastoma – one of the most aggressive forms of the disease.
By using a single injection of a modified virus, doctors can now trigger the body’s own immune system into invading and killing cancerous cells.
The revolutionary treatment, developed by experts at Mass General Brigham and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, uses an oncolytic virus – a lab-engineered version of the herpes simplex virus.
Glioblastoma has long been a nightmare for medics because it is a “cold” tumour, meaning it effectively hides from the body’s natural defences.
Kai Wucherpfennig, MD, PhD, from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, said: “Patients with glioblastoma have not benefited from immunotherapies that have transformed patient care in other cancer types such as melanoma because glioblastoma is a ‘cold’ tumour with poor infiltration by cancer-fighting immune cells.
“Findings from our clinical trial and our mechanistic study show that is now feasible to bring these critical immune cells into glioblastoma.”
Once injected, the virus replicates only inside the cancer cells, causing them to be destroyed while leaving healthy brain tissue completely untouched.
In a clinical trial of 41 patients whose cancer had returned, the results were staggering. The treatment didn’t just kill cells directly – it summoned T-cells deep into the brain, where they stayed to continue the fight.
Data published in the journal Cell revealed that patients lived longer than expected, especially those who already had antibodies against the virus.
E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD, from Mass General Brigham, said the discovery could end a 20-year stalemate in cancer treatment.
He said: “We show that increased infiltration of T cells that are attacking tumor cells translates into a therapeutic benefit for patients with glioblastoma.
“Our findings could have important implications for a cancer whose standard of care hasn’t changed for 20 years.”
Researchers found that the closer the T-cells were to the dying cancer, the longer the patient survived, suggesting the body’s own immune system is finally being given the tools to win the war against brain tumours.
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By staronline@reachplc.com (Liam Randall)
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