We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress
Sign In
Advertise with Us
PURITAN MEDICAL

Download Mobile App




Innovative “Viro-Immunotherapy” Designed to Kill Breast Cancer Cells

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 21 Jan 2015
Print article
Image: Cancer cells infected with tumor-targeted oncolytic virus (red). Green indicates alpha-tubulin, a cell skeleton protein. Blue is DNA in the cancer cell nuclei (Photo courtesy of Dr. Rathi Gangeswaran, Bart’s Cancer Institute).
Image: Cancer cells infected with tumor-targeted oncolytic virus (red). Green indicates alpha-tubulin, a cell skeleton protein. Blue is DNA in the cancer cell nuclei (Photo courtesy of Dr. Rathi Gangeswaran, Bart’s Cancer Institute).
A leading scientist has devised a new treatment that employs viruses to kill breast cancer cells. The research could lead to a promising “viro-immunotherapy” for patients with triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive type of the disease that currently has no targeted treatment options.

Approximately15% of breast tumors are found to be triple-negative, an especially aggressive type of the disease that is more likely to spread to other areas of the body than other types. Triple-negative breast cancer lacks the three molecules which are used to classify breast cancers, meaning it cannot be treated with targeted drugs commonly used to treat other types of breast cancer, such as tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors for estrogen receptor (ER)- and progesterone receptor (PR)-positive breast cancer, or herceptin for HER2-positive breast cancer.

Dr. Yaohe Wang, from Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London (UK), believes that the way viruses attack the body could be utilized to develop a breast cancer treatment he calls viro-immunotherapy.

When viruses attack the body, they locate and infect specific cells to reproduce, which ultimately kills the cell. Dr. Wang has engineered viruses which specifically target and kill cancer cells. This also has the twice the effect of engaging the immune system to kill any other cancer cells, which could prevent the cancer coming back or spreading throughout the body after treatment.

With about GBP 200,000 funding from research charity Breast Cancer Campaign (London, UK), Dr. Wang will engineer viruses he has earlier developed to treat other cancers. These viruses include genes which make proteins that are typically found on the surface of triple-negative breast cancer cells, so making this viro-immunotherapy specific for triple-negative breast cancer.

Katherine Woods, research communications manager at Breast Cancer Campaign, stated, “More than 7,500 women in the United Kingdom alone are diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer every year, and there is no targeted treatment available for them. These women are left with very few treatment options, namely chemotherapy in addition to surgery or radiotherapy, and therefore it is essential we find new ways to treat this aggressive type of the disease. Dr. Wang’s pioneering research could lead to an effective and safe viro-immunotherapy treatment for triple-negative breast cancers, providing a much-needed new option to treat this form of the disease. This could ultimately save thousands of lives and bring us closer to our goal that by 2025, improved and more personalized treatments will reduce mortality from breast cancer by half.”

Dr. Wang will start the three-year project by developing the custom-made viruses, after which they will be tested on lab-grown triple-negative breast cancer cells, as well as mice implanted with triple-negative breast cancer cells.

Related Links:

Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London


Platinum Member
COVID-19 Rapid Test
OSOM COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test
Specimen Collection & Transport
Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test
GPP-100 Anti-CCP Kit
New
Gold Member
Magnetic Bead Separation Modules
MAG and HEATMAG

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: Reaching speeds up to 6,000 RPM, this centrifuge forms the basis for a new type of inexpensive, POC biomedical test (Photo courtesy of Duke University)

POC Biomedical Test Spins Water Droplet Using Sound Waves for Cancer Detection

Exosomes, tiny cellular bioparticles carrying a specific set of proteins, lipids, and genetic materials, play a crucial role in cell communication and hold promise for non-invasive diagnostics.... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: MOF materials efficiently enrich cfDNA and cfRNA in blood through simple operational process (Photo courtesy of Science China Press)

Blood Circulating Nucleic Acid Enrichment Technique Enables Non-Invasive Liver Cancer Diagnosis

The ability to diagnose diseases early can significantly enhance the effectiveness of clinical treatments and improve survival rates. One promising approach for non-invasive early diagnosis is the use... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: The low-cost portable device rapidly identifies chemotherapy patients at risk of sepsis (Photo courtesy of 52North Health)

POC Finger-Prick Blood Test Determines Risk of Neutropenic Sepsis in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Neutropenia, a decrease in neutrophils (a type of white blood cell crucial for fighting infections), is a frequent side effect of certain cancer treatments. This condition elevates the risk of infections,... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: The OvaCis Rapid Test discriminates benign from malignant epithelial ovarian cysts (Photo courtesy of INEX)

Intra-Operative POC Device Distinguishes Between Benign and Malignant Ovarian Cysts within 15 Minutes

Ovarian cysts represent a significant health issue for women globally, with up to 10% experiencing this condition at some point in their lives. These cysts form when fluid collects within a thin membrane... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.