“Exploding” viruses against brain cancer

Brain cancer – a terrible disease that annually kills tens of thousands of lives. For its treatment uses a variety of techniques, but experiments using viral therapy only recently begun. The purpose of such treatment is that the patient deliberately infected with a particular virus that finds and affects the cancer cells something like a “molecular detonators”, which are then “blown” inside the tumor using toxic drugs. Recently completed clinical trial demonstrated the high efficiency of this method, according to Hi-News.
In clinical trials, attended by 45 volunteers suffering from the most aggressive forms of brain cancer. They were introduced one by one virus, and certain medications. As a result, the life expectancy of patients has increased by an average twice, and it was not noticed any serious side effects of the new therapy. The research results were published Wednesday in the journal Science Translation Medicine. The success of the experiment the scientists opened the possibility for further research in this area.
Scientists had previously tried to resort to the help of viruses in the treatment of cancer, but the virus used in the above studies, works a little differently. Instead of directly attacking cancer cells, it performs a different task: a solid foundation for the success of medicines. The virus, called Toca 511, finds cancer cells with impaired defense system that prevents the effects of viruses and invades them. Once inside, the virus changes the cell’s DNA, after which it begins to intensively produce the enzyme cytosine delaminate (CD), acting as a “detonator” for medicines.
The second part of the treatment, the doctors are sent to the patient’s body a “chemical bomb” – shape inactivated cancer drugs 5-FU (5-Fluorouracil). This drug has proven itself as an effective means to destroy cancer cells, but it is far not safe for a healthy human body cells. The inactivated form of the drug in peace and quiet travel through the circulatory system until it encounters the tumor. As soon as the drug comes into contact with the enzyme CD, it turns into an aggressive cancer killer.
During clinical trials, patients with the same form and terms of disease were divided into two groups. Term life expectancy in the control group receiving no treatment was 7.1 months. Those volunteers who were treated by a new technique, lived an average of 13.6 months. It should be noted that all the patients who participated in the research, has been subjected to various methods of treatment, and even survived surgery to remove tumors.
Study patients did not reveal the presence of blood in it virus, thus it can be found in the vicinity of a brain tumor, which indicates its selective effect on the body. The results of these clinical trials are promising. Scientists are actively planning extensive tests on which a larger group of volunteers willing to help science in the fight against the deadly disease.