Yesterday I posted Remission of Hodgkin lymphoma with SARS-CoV-2. It was about a man whose blood cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma) disappeared four months after he contracted COVID-19.
Oncolytic viruses can dissolve (lyse) cancer (onco) cells. Research into the use of viruses for cancer treatment has been ongoing for the past few decades.
The following are genetically modified viruses to remove specific gene sequences to prevent infection. During clinical trials, the viruses were injected directly into the tumors.
Here are some examples. The studies are embedded in the links.
Adenovirus, in combination with tamoxifen and doxorubicin, can stop the spread of breast cancer cells.
The vaccinia virus, the same virus used to make vaccines for smallpox and monkeypox, is being studied now for metastatic malignant melanoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
The US FDA recognizes a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus-Talimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC) virus, for cancer treatment.
HF-10 is a Herpes Simplex Virus 1-based oncolytic virus shown to effectively destroy colon carcinoma, peritoneal cancer, and melanoma in rodent models.
HSV1716 is an oncolytic Herpes Simplex virus given in pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory extracranial cancer by intratumoral injection. A total of nine patients have been treated, and no dose-limiting toxicities have been observed.
Oncorine (also known as H101) is the first recombinant oncolytic adenovirus approved by China Food and Drug Administration Department (CFDA). It was combined with chemotherapy to treat nasopharyngeal carcinoma in late 2005.
DNX-2401 is another promising adenovirus-based oncolytic virus. It was injected into two groups of patients with recurrent malignant glioma. In one group, five of the 25 patients survived for more than three years, of whom three showed more than 95% regression in tumor size.
These are just samples of ongoing studies. In one review by Cheng et al., there are now 473 articles about the use of oncolytic viruses for treating brain cancers. The studies are mainly focused on preclinical and phases I/II.
As mentioned earlier, the oncolytic viruses used in this article are genetically modified. Naturally, occurring herpes viruses, vaccinia, and adenoviruses will not cure cancers unless they spontaneously mutate into a form, but that will be pure luck or a miracle.
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