Scientists administered to a volunteer with metastasized cancer resistant to previous treatments, a virus capable of infecting and killing cancer cells while sparing healthy ones.
- The test phase of a “cancer killer” virus has begun in a first patient.
- Worldwide, cancer is the second leading cause of death with nearly 10 million deaths per year.
They are called oncolytics: “cancer-killing” viruses. These promising allies in the treatment of cancers are viruses present in nature and genetically modified to infect, replicate in cancerous cells and kill them while sparing healthy cells.
And it is a new virus of this family – an orthopoxvirus, like that of the monkeypox which is currently making headlines – responding to the sweet name of CF33-hNIS VAXINIA, which has just been used in a clinical trial on a first patient with metastasized cancer.
Reduces cancerous tumors
Developed by Imugene Limited, an Australian biotechnology company and City of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the United States, CF33-hNIS VAXINIA has shrunk cancerous tumors of the colon, lung , breast, ovarian and pancreatic preclinical models in the laboratory and in animals by stimulating the immune system against cancer so that it kills it and responds better to other immunotherapies.
Immunotherapy is a very promising therapeutic solution in oncology and consists of helping the immune system to recognize and destroy tumors instead of attacking them directly.
When the cancerous cell dies, it releases viral particles which stimulate the immune system, in particular the T lymphocytes which specialize in the destruction of tumours, which then attack their neighbours.
Improve results
Scientists are confident about its effectiveness: “Now is the time to further strengthen the power of immunotherapy, and we believe CF33-hNIS has the potential to improve outcomes for our patients in their fight against cancer.“said Daneng Li, Principal Investigator and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research at City of Hope.
The clinical trial currently initiated on the first patient will test the safety and tolerance of CF33-hNIS alone or in combination with a therapeutic antibody, pembrolizumab, already authorized to treat several cancers, on a hundred patients in the United States and in Australia.
Success of oncolytic viruses
Scientists hope to harness the promise of virology and immunotherapy for the treatment of a wide variety of deadly cancers:”Interestingly, the same characteristics that make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy or radiation therapy actually enhance the success of oncolytic viruses, such as CF33-hNIS“, said Yuman Fong, the main developer of the genetically modified virus.
