Scientists Propose to Use Therapeutic Viruses for Potential Cancer Treatment

Cancer is the abnormal growth and uncontrollable spread of cells from a certain tissue, blood, system, or organ to the rest of the body.

Also called as tumor cells, the condition has long been thought to be caused by various genetic and environmental factors, as well as lifestyle choices including unhealthy food and habits. Cancer has been considered to be the leading causes of deaths worldwide.

Recent research has shown that certain viruses cause cancer development inside the body, including the latest finding of their role in triggering Alzheimer's disease. Regardless of their relation, both cancer cells and viruses are classified as threats by the body's immune system, which has evolved for millions of years to fight the invasive tumors and infectious pathogens.

Now, therapeutic viruses are being proposed by researchers to have a potential for cancer treatment, according to a study led by the United States. The scientists claim the therapy boosts the immune system for its role to fight cancer cells. The unprecedented finding exposes the vulnerability of our immune response, regardless of how complex it is. Yet, the discovery also sheds light of its maximum capability.

The scientific team explore the process of autosis, a form of cell death which is dependent on the biological process of autophagy and characterized by unique morphological and biochemical features. With this, the team employs a combination of immunotherapy and virotherapy, to allow the destruction of cancer cells. The method primarily aims to help patients with treatment-resisting cancers.

Therapeutic Viruses and Cancer Treatment

The novel findings about therapeutic viruses and cancer treatment have been published in the journal Cancer Cell on August 25, where researchers from the Arizona State University show a combination of two therapies indicated promising results for "treatment-resistant cancers."

The new paper emphasizes on the induction of tumor cells through autosis. This was was made possible by using oncolytic viruses that have the ability to seek and destroy cancer cells; while leaving healthy cells unharmed and boosting the immune capacity to target cancer cells.

Immunotherapy and Virotherapy

In a bid to destroy cancer cells, the novel study describes how a combined immunotherapy and virotherapy, using myxoma virus, leads to the new cancer-killing approach, as mentioned by the AAAS.

In summary, the existing oncolytic virotherapy, a technique which utilizes cancer-fighting viruses, can act in sync with conventional immunotherapy techniques.

The work confirms the high potential of combining virotherapy with cell therapy to treat intractable cancers of today's times, according to McFadden, as cited by the AAAS.

Viruses That Cause Cancers

The theoretical foundation of the new research is likely comparable to the fact that viruses replicate themselves inside the body by invading healthy cells. It is for this reason alone that viral infections could also fight cancer cells.

The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) stated there are seven viruses such as the Epstein-Barr virus, papillomaviruses 16 and 18, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, human adult T-cell leukemia virus type 1, Merkel cell polyomavirus.