Novel cancer-killing virus being tested in study
Researchers discovered years ago that some viruses cancer-killing can have potential. Now became one patients in a clinical Phase 1 study such a Virus administered, the malicious tumors shrink let and cure cancer target.
Cancer research is evolving and evolving. Experts have now taken an important step. An oncolytic virus has been used in animal experiments to reduce the size of various cancerous tumors. Now it is being tested on cancer patients.
Immune system is stimulated
The City of Hope National Medical Center Cancer Hospital in Duarte, Los Angeles County, California, USA, and Imugene Limited, an Australian biotechnology company, announced that a novel cancer-killing virus has been administered to the first patient in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
According to Message The clinic has previously shown in preclinical laboratory and animal models that City of Hope’s oncolytic virus CF33-hNIS, also known as vaxinia, shrinks colon, lung, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancer tumors.
“Our previous research has shown that oncolytic viruses can stimulate the immune system to respond to and kill cancer, as well as stimulate the immune system to respond better to other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors.”explained Dr. A.S. Daneng Li von City of Hope.
“Now is the time to further increase the power of immunotherapy, and we believe CF33-hNIS has the potential to improve outcomes for our patients fighting cancer.”
Immunotherapy becomes more effective
Oncolytic viral therapy becomes possible once naturally occurring viruses are genetically engineered to infect, replicate, and kill cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.
While immune checkpoint inhibitors have been effective in certain types of cancer, patients often relapse and eventually become unresponsive to that type of treatment or develop resistance to that therapy.
Early research shows that oncolytic viruses can boost a person’s immune system and increase PD-L1 levels in tumors, making immunotherapy more effective against cancer.
Investigation at study centers in the USA and Australia
The multi-center Phase 1 study begins with the administration of a low dose of CF33-hNIS in cancer patients with metastatic or advanced solid tumors who have received at least two prior lines of standard treatment. The test treatment is administered either as an injection directly into the tumor or intravenously.
Once patients in the monotherapy group have been treated with the lowest doses of CF33-hNIS and demonstrated acceptable safety, certain new study participants will receive the experimental oncolytic virus in combination with immunotherapy pembrolizumab, an engineered antibody that enhances the immune system’s ability to fight cancer-causing cells.
The study aims to enroll 100 cancer patients at approximately ten study centers in the United States and Australia.
According to the information, City of Hope licensed patent rights for CF33 exclusively to Imugene Limited, a company developing novel therapies that activate the immune system against cancer. Imugene has named CF33-hNIS Vaxinia.
Study is expected to run for two years
“Interestingly, the same properties that eventually make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy or radiation treatment actually enhance the success of oncolytic viruses like CF33-hNIS”explains the main developer of the genetically modified virus, Dr. Yuman Fong von City of Hope.
“We hope to capitalize on the promise of virology and immunotherapy to treat a variety of deadly cancers.”
The clinical study is expected to run for approximately 24 months. (ad)
Author and source information
This text corresponds to the specifications of medical specialist literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
Important NOTE:
This article contains general advice only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.