The Use of Viruses to Treat Cancer - 578 Words

Everyday science is advancing and researchers are working hard to examine and investigate all the different possible ways to develop new viruses to cure cancer. A research paper published recently suggests that a genetically engineered poxvirus called JX-594 shows the greatest clinical potential for a couple of reasons. It spreads and replicates fast, does not mix into host DNA, easy to manipulate genetically, very immunogenic, and remarkably safe in both animal models and initial human clinical trials [19]. Furthermore, research was conducted recently to study the combination of a VV with irinotecan (CPT-11) for cancer treatment by endogenous carboxylesterase (CE) enzymes. Approximately 5% of CPT-11 is converted to more active chemotherapeutic SN-38. The study concluded that both CPT-11 and SN-38 did not interfere with VV spread or replication. Furthermore, the study showed that the combination of CE-virus and CPT-11 resulted in the death of more K-562 cancer cells in vitro in comparison to its non-CE counterpart and CPT-11 [20]. Another example is Talimogene Iaherparepvec (OncoVEX GM-CSF), which is developed by Bio Vex, which later was purchased by Amgen for $ 1 billion in 2011 [21]. The virus is based on herpes simplex (HSV-1) and in March 2013, the virus has successfully completed a phase three trial for advanced melanoma [22]. It is expected to be the first oncolytic agent to be approved in the west. Also, it was examined in a phase one trial for pancreatic cancer andShow MoreRelatedWhat Are Oncolytic Viruses?1225 Words   |  5 PagesWhat are Oncolytic Viruses? Oncolytic viruses are viruses that are either genetically manufactured or naturally made, that can kill cancer cells without affecting normal cells. The virus rapidly multiplies until the cancerous cell explodes. This releases the virus, tumor specific agents, and GM-CSF. This causes the immune system to recognize cancerous cells and fight them with the help of the virus. Who/When Was it Developed? The uses of viruses to treat cancer have been talked about since theRead MoreIdentify And Describe Three Groups Of Low G + C Gram Positive Bacteria1579 Words   |  7 Pagesdifficult to treat viral infections? Provide an example. It is difficult to treat viral infections because in viral replication the virus uses the cellular structures and pathways of the host to multiply. So, any strategy for the treatment of viral diseases that involves disrupting the viral replication may disrupt normal cellular processes on the host as well. We are also limited by the number of effective antiviral drugs on the market. The drugs that are available against viruses can be toxicRead MoreEssay On Cancer-Fighting Viruses1432 Words   |  6 PagesIn recent years, many types of research have been developed regarding cancer-fighting viruses. The possibility of creating an effective therapy for cancer using this kind of treatment is been explored and, so far the results are promising. Many Asian countries have already approved viro-therapy to treat some types of cancer and here, in the US, the FDA has approved in October 2015, the first oncolytic virus therapy, talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC, or Imlygic ®) for the treatmen t of metastatic melanomaRead MoreEssay about Cancer1518 Words   |  7 PagesCancer   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Right now, cancer is one of the most feared diseases in the world. In the early 1990s almost 6 million new cancer cases developed and more than 4 million deaths from cancers occurred. Also more than one-fifth of all deaths were caused by cancer and it has been predicted, by the American Cancer Society, that about 33% of Americans will eventually develop this disease. This is a huge disease that is killing people all over the world.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The field of cancer study is called OncologyRead MoreViruses And Its Effects On Humans1404 Words   |  6 PagesThough viruses may seem as though it only has the potential to cause harm, recent studies have surfaced to change its bad reputation. Common known viruses such as Ebola, rabies, influenza, HIV and more are known to show harmful reactions to humans, sometimes even possible to cause death. Because of the way they work, viruses such as the human immunodeficiency virus has been looked into in terms of reprogramming, ending in a result that could possibly be an option to treat another catastrophic epidemicRead MoreGene Therapy And Its Effects1619 Words   |  7 Pagesadvanced; there have been remarkable strides in its methods and an increase in the range of targetable diseases. Gene therapy is the modification of the genetic material within a cell for therapeutic purposes. It is used to treat or prevent diseases, inherited disorders, some cancers and viral infections by inserting a gene into a patient’s cell, through a viral vector as a delivery system, instead of using traditional medicine or surgery. Genes are responsible for making proteins, which in turn haveRead MoreAn Introduction Of An Oncolytic Virus ( Ov )1703 Words   |  7 Pagesoncolytic virus (OV) is a virus that preferentially infects and kills cancer cells. OVs posses the ability to selectively infect and replicate in cancer and associated endothelial cells and kill these cells in cancerous tissues while leaving normal tissues unharmed [1]. As the infected cancer cells are destroyed by lysis, they release new infectious virus particles to help destroy other cancer cells or the remaining tumor. The viruses achieve this by a number of mechanisms, including direct lysis, apoptosisRead M oreDisadvantages Of Adeno-Associated Viruses1403 Words   |  6 Pages However, adeno-associated viruses still have several drawbacks, firstly, regarding their integration into the host cell’s genome. The majority of AAV DNA remains episomal and does not integrate(21). This means the effect of the genes on cells is transient, and eventually, the transgenic DNA will be removed. This removal is slower than in adenoviruses due to reduced immunogenicity. A study looking at the treatment of haemophilia B in dogs found that AAV treatment could replace levels of factor IXRead MoreThe Detection And Treatment Of Cancer1554 Words   |  7 PagesHow is a greater understanding of genetics fuelling a change in our diagnosis and treatment of cancer? It is estimated by Cancer Research UK that one in two people in the UK will get cancer at some point in their lives . This startling statistic shows an inept global failure to bring about control of one of most prevalent and fatal known diseases. But the growth in cancer incidence is not confined to the UK; in 2012 14.1 million new people were diagnosed worldwide, with forty percent of these newRead MoreGenetic Engineering And Its Effects On Cancer Essay1818 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Cancer, one of the most feared and deadliest diseases that affects millions of people around the world, may finally have a cure. Thanks to modern biotechnology, diseases that used to kill people, like smallpox, measles, and even HIV may actually hold the key to killing cancer. The ability for a virus to infect cancer cells has been documented as early as the 1900s. Recently scientists have been able to manipulate the genetic structure of viruses so we can use them to treat cancer safely.