The herpes virus, which remains inactive in the human body for a long time and causes chickenpox or shingles, has a bad image. However, recent research suggests it may be an ally in the fight against cancer. In one example of a clinical trial, the genetically modified herpes virus showed an effect on a tumor that was difficult to resect and there was one patient who saw no signs of cancer after 15 months.
This treatment with a genetically modified strain of herpes simplex type 1 is known as RP2. To put it bluntly, it is shown that it is possible to infect specific cancer cells by injecting a virus directly into the tumor and inhibit the expression of the CTLA-4 protein to produce another GM-CSF molecule, which suppresses the escape of cancer cells from the tumor. immune system and hiding.
If so, how effective can this treatment actually be? A research group, including the University of London Cancer Institute, conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial. Nine patients were included in the RP2 treatment group and 30 patients in the RP2 treatment group in combination with other agents. immunotherapy. Consequently, when RP2 was administered alone, effects such as cancer reduction or proliferation arrest could be seen in 3 patients and the treatment effect was confirmed in 7 patients when administered in combination.
Among them, patients with salivary-acting cancer were able to confirm complete remission for 15 months after administration of RP2 alone. There have been no life-threatening reports after treatment, but the most common symptoms include fever, chills, and colds.
Although the results of this study have been presented to the European Society of Clinical Oncology 2022, an official review has not yet been carried out and the number of samples is small, so it is in a preliminary state. Research into the treatment of cancer with viruses has been ongoing for a long time, but has only recently taken shape. In the United States, the first viral therapy was approved for melanoma progression in 2015, or a Phase 1 clinical trial of an anticancer virus called Vaxinia was conducted in California in May of this year. Several are in development.
It will take a long time for these experimental treatments to be recognized as safe and effective, but the day the herpes virus can help cure cancer may not be far off. Relative content this placecan be registered
