Beata Halassy, a Croatian virologist, experimented with oncolytic virotherapy on herself to treat a recurrence of breast cancer. Using attenuated measles and vesicular stomatitis viruses, Halassy stimulated an immune response to attack tumor cells. Four years after treatment, the tumor has not reappeared, but his case has opened a scientific and ethical debate on this innovative experimental therapy.
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Editorial Staff • 13 November 2024
* last modified on 11/13/2024
In a world where medicine is constantly evolving, Beata Halassy’s case has attracted attention for its extraordinary combination of scientific expertise and personal risk. Halassy, a virologist at the University of Zagreb, chose to experiment on herself with oncolytic virotherapy, a treatment that uses viruses to induce the immune system to attack tumor cells. Four years after treatment, the tumor has not reappeared, but the scientific and ethical debate on its choice is still heated.
An unconventional decision
In 2020, Halassy is diagnosed with a recurrence of breast cancer. After exploring traditional options, he decides not to undergo chemotherapy, preferring an alternative route. Thanks to her expertise as a virologist, she decides to use oncolytic virotherapy, a technique still in the experimental phase, but which shows potential in fighting resistant tumors. Halassy decides to use the measles virus and the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), known for their potential to selectively destroy tumor cells without affecting healthy ones.
How oncolytic virotherapy works
Oncolytic virotherapy exploits the ability of viruses to bind to cells, injecting genetic material to replicate. In Halassy’s case, the virus targeted tumor cells, causing their death and activating the immune system. Thanks to his expertise in virology, Halassy used attenuated viruses, a weakened version that does not cause serious symptoms, but stimulates an immune response sufficient to target the tumor.
The role of the oncologist and the outcome of the treatment
During the treatment, Halassy was supported by her oncologist, who monitored the evolution of the tumor, ready to intervene if the experimental method did not produce results. In two months, the tumor had shrunk to the point where it could be surgically removed. The removed tissues showed a high concentration of immune cells, a sign of an effective immune system response, which helped eliminate the diseased cells. After the surgery, Halassy underwent a year of treatment with trastuzumab, an anticancer drug used to block the spread of cancer cells.
Publication and the ethical debate
Halassy’s case, eventually published in the journal Vaccines, sparked widespread debate. Self-experimentation without the support of a formal clinical study raises ethical questions, especially due to the potential risks associated with the use of viral preparations not tested on a large scale. Many experts warn against the risk of creating false hopes, since replicating such a treatment requires advanced knowledge and laboratory tools that are not easily accessible.
Implications for future research
Beata Halassy’s story opens up new questions for modern medicine: how far can we go to discover new treatment methods? Oncolytic virotherapy, while promising, is still unexplored terrain. Halassy’s courage and scientific expertise led to positive results in his case, but the debate over safety and ethics remains. His story could push research to explore new approaches to treating cancer while keeping patient safety as a priority.
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