Cancer-Killing Virus Shows Promise as Metastatic Cancer Treatment

Recently reported by Paul Hallenbeck, Ph.D., of Neotropix in Malvern, Pa is news of recently discovered cancer-killing virus, Seneca Valley Virus-001. Other cancer-killing viruses have been shown to be effective against localized cancer, but what caught my eye about this virus is its potential against metastatic cancer, especially lung and eye cancer. Metastatic cancer is much deadlier than localized cancer and any new methods of fighting it are always good news. It is believed that in the past, other cancer-killing viruses have been inable to target metastatic cancer because of an inability to differentiate between normal and cancerous cells or because the virus was altered in the blood or by the immune system. However, trials with the new Seneca Valley Virus-001 have been performed in both normal and tumor cell lines and in the blood to see how it is affected there. In the trials, the Seneca Valley Virus-001 showed great cancer-killing potential and ability to distinguish between normal and cancerous cells. The results appear to trump those of all other cancer-killing viruses opening high hopes for the future of cancer treatment and may be seen in action in humans in the years to come.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071030160940.htm