How many people would breathe a sigh of relief if an effective cure for cancer were found… This would mean a new chance for life for many people faced with the consequences of this inexorable disease. But also a little relaxation for those who live with constant fear, only knowing about the existence of this disease.
Medicine is constantly evolving, and with it, people's expectations of finding an effective cancer treatment are also growing.
Recently, a patient was first injected with a virus that kills cancer cells. Do you already know what this is about? Let's figure it out together!
Researchers at the City of Hope National Medical Center in California have created a virus that has been shown in animal studies to significantly reduce solid tumors. At the moment, its first human trials have been officially approved.
The virus, called Vaxinia, was genetically engineered to infect and replicate specifically in cancer cells and kill them while sparing healthy cells. Animal tests have shown that it can reduce tumors in the colon, lungs, breast, ovaries, and pancreas.
In addition, Vaxinia increases the level of the PD-L1 protein in tumors, which causes the immune system to "notice" the tumor and respond to it, and stimulates the immune system, which increases the effectiveness of therapy.
The virus was developed in collaboration with Imugene Limited, a company specializing in immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is considered to be milder than chemotherapy, which affects both diseased and healthy cells and has many side effects.
The Phase 1 clinical trial is expected to enroll 100 cancer patients with metastatic or advanced large tumors at approximately 10 trial sites in the US and Australia. It is expected to last about 24 months. Initially, patients will receive a low dose of Vaxina, either as an injection directly into the tumors or intravenously.
In addition, some participants will receive combination treatment with the drug pembrolizumab, which is already being used to treat certain types of cancer.
The test will help determine the ideal dosage for adult patients and, more importantly, determine if Vaxinia is safe for humans.
If the first phase of the trial is successful, the virus could be used in larger groups of participants in the future, and then as a clinical therapy.
Oncolytic viruses have long been considered very promising cancer therapies, and they have been under active development in recent years. In 2021, a modified Coxsackie virus, one of the viruses that causes the common cold, showed promising results in treating advanced skin cancer that could not be cured with surgery. Another study showed the effectiveness of reovirus injected directly into the bloodstream to treat people with aggressive brain tumors.
The testing process is expected to be completed in early 2025. So it will be some time before we see the final results.
Until then, we can only hope that this "revolutionary" virus will be really effective, and humanity will have a new chance for a life without cancer. Nethertheless, the efforts and results of modern medicine cannot be neglected.
Good luck to all of us!