Yale Researchers Kill Melanoma Cells Using Virus

A team of researchers from Yale University destroyed 70 percent of tumor cells in a mice model using a virus.

Melanoma, according to PubMed Health is the most deadly form of skin cancer. The National Cancer Institute predicts that about 76,690 cases of Melanoma will occur in the U.S. in 2013.

Researchers from Yale tested the fast-acting virus on mouse that had developed melanoma.

The virus, vesicular stomatitis virus belongs to a family of viruses that includes rabies. The virus can cause flu-like symptoms. Researchers found that the virus selectively targeted cells that had become cancerous. The virus completely wiped out 70 percent of the tumor sites.

"After injection into the blood stream of mice, the virus finds melanoma on its own, and is fast and aggressive with tumors. Because the virus replicates rapidly, it can kill the melanoma before the immune system responds and kills the virus," said Anthony N. van den Pol, professor of neurosurgery at Yale School of Medicine, investigator for the Yale Cancer Center and a senior author of the study, according to a news release. 

He added that while the virus is killing the tumor, it can also kick-start the body's immune system to identify and attack the cancer.

Melanoma occurs when there are changes in a group of cells called the melanocytes. These cells produce melanin that is responsible for skin and hair color. The cancer can appear on normal cells or can develop from moles that present from birth.

Melanoma is best cured in its earliest stages, says Medline Plus. When melanoma is left untreated, the cancer cells move down from the skin and spread to other parts of the body, making treatment difficult.

The next step would be to find whether or not the virus is safe for use in human patients, researchers said.

The study is published in the Journal of Virology.