Modified Virus Shows Promise in Shrinking Tumors and Halting Cancer Growth

This article does not directly discuss prostate cancer. However, it is very important because oncolytic viruses can be an affordable and highly effective weapon in fighting prostate cancer as well. We do not know exactly all the types of cancer treated in this clinical study, but we must always keep in mind that treatments are increasingly tied to the genetic profile of the cancer rather than its location.

A recent small clinical study from China has demonstrated that a genetically engineered virus could become a new weapon in the fight against cancer. Researchers modified the Newcastle disease virus, which is harmless to humans, to coat cancer cells with a sugar that triggers an immune response. This experimental treatment, known as NDV-GT, effectively tricks the immune system into attacking tumors as if they were foreign invaders, leaving healthy cells untouched.

The therapy was tested on 23 patients with various advanced cancers that had not responded to standard treatments. Weekly infusions over two to three months produced remarkable results: nearly every participant experienced tumor shrinkage or a halt in growth. In some cases, tumors shrank significantly, while in others, growth was stopped temporarily.

Despite these promising results, experts caution that the treatment is still in its early stages. Rigorous clinical trials are needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness before it can be made widely available. Researchers say the next steps include expanding trials and refining the therapy to improve its durability and consistency across different cancer types.

The emergence of NDV-GT highlights a growing interest in oncolytic virus therapy, an approach that uses viruses to selectively target and destroy cancer cells.

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