StemCell Therapy

Can a virus help the body fight back against cancer and boost the immune system to tackle the disease better? A new study published in the journal Cancer Cell suggests that the bodys immune capacity against cancer to recognise and destroy cancer cells can be boosted by using oncolytic viruses. Oncolytic viruses (OVs) are viruses that selectively target and kill cancer cells while sparing normal ones. The study notes that these viruses also enhance the immune systems ability to recognise and terminate cancer cells.

Although long theorised, the research into oncolytic virotherapy picked up only in the 1960s. Of late, there have been several trials looking at different viruses for cancer treatment.

The latest study focused on the virus known as myxoma and it found that T-cells infected with myxoma virus can lead to a type of cancer cell death not previously observed.

The research claims to uncover an unexpected synergy between T-cells and MYXV (myxoma virus) to bolster solid tumor cell autosis that reinforces tumor clearance.

Autosis is a form of cell destruction that is useful against solid tumors, which are seen as treatment-resistant.

Myxoma can target and kill cancer cells directly, but using myxoma-equipped T-cells works well as cancerous cells in the vicinity of those targeted are also destroyed. This process is called bystander killing.

The study makes the case that immunotherapy combined with virotherapy holds potential to seek and destroy cold tumors that fly under the immune systems radar.

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New research: Cancer-fighting viruses can boost body's immune response - The Indian Express

This entry was posted on September 4, 2022 at 2:06 am and is filed under Immune System. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. |