ALREADY FOUND, VIRUS BUSTERS CANCER CELLS

Research to find a cure for cancer continues to be done by experts from around the world. Now present a speck of hope for cancer patients after the discovery of a single type of virus by scientists in Europe.

In its latest study , researchers from the life - Faculty of Life Sciences , University of Copenhagen in Denmark found that the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV ) has great potential not already well known . The virus has two large capacity that is, to kill cancer cells while inhibiting the expression of specific molecules of the type of cancer cells that are hidden on the immune system.

According to the researchers , some types of cancer cells are known to express both liquid immunostimulatory molecules , blocking the immune system's ability to recognize and allow these cells progress to cancer

Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV ) is a rhabdovirus . This virus comes from the same family with the rabies virus , and causes a disease similar to foot and mouth disease in cattle.

" The overexpression seen in cancer types such as melanoma , testicular cancer , ovarian cancer and certain types of leukemia significantly impairs the immune system, thus reducing the chances of recovery of the patient ," Soren Skov , Associate Professor of immunology LIFE.

Skov was the leader of a research team that has just launched a major EU project to study the potential to improve the treatment of cancer by strengthening the immune system. As part of his research is published in the Journal of Virology, the researchers infected human cancer cells with VSV .

" We have shown that the virus (VSV ) to kill cancer cells The results also show that VSV is very effective in inhibiting the production of immunostimulatory molecules - . Acting destroys the immune system, and thus allow a person to survive , "says Skov .

breakthrough

Skov evaluate these results as a clear breakthrough and a huge leap towards better cancer treatment, in which the immune system will be able to stop the development of cancer more effectively. Skov find hope in the future this may be an alternative to chemotherapy, tailored to each patient 's disease .

"The next step will be clinical trials in humans. Tests were conducted in the United States , "says Helle Jensen, a researcher who has conducted research in the LIFE project in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and the National Veterinary Institute in the technical University of Denmark (DTU ) .