A genetically modified herpes virus has been used to successfully treat skin cancer by destroying cancer cells and triggering an immune response, says a new research.
It was the first time an advanced-stage trial of this type of drug has shown such positive results, according to scientists from The Institute of Cancer Research in London who published their study in the American Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Scientists Reduce Progression of the Most Aggressive Skin Cancers in Mice
The c-Fos oncogene has traditionally been linked to cellular activities related to cancer, such as differentiation—conversion from one cell type to another— cell division or survival.
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The dramatic results, showing a large jump in survival length, could lead the drug T-VEC (Talimogene Laherparepvec) to be approved by US and European drug regulators.
Researchers randomly selected 436 patients with inoperable advanced melanoma to receive an injection of T-VEC made by US company Amgen. In the study, more than 16% of those treated with the drug had a treatment response lasting longer than six months, compared with two percent in the control groups.
![Red Hair Gene Linked to Serious Form of Skin Cancer]( "Red Hair Gene Linked to Serious Form of Skin Cancer")
A new study suggests that the gene which is responsible for red hair increases the risk of worst form of skin cancer by more than a 100 times.
Some patients have been in remission for more than three years, the study said. Results were more pronounced in patients with less advanced skin cancer and in those who had no prior treatment, indicating T-VEC could be a first-line treatment. Among 163 patients with less advanced melanoma, people treated with T-VEC survived an average of 41 months compared to 21.5 months for 66 patients treated with other therapy.
"There is increasing excitement over the use of viral treatments like T-VEC for cancer, because they can launch a two-pronged attack on tumors - both killing cancer cells directly and marshaling the immune system against them," said Kevin Harrington from The Institute of Cancer Research.
The drug uses a version of the herpes virus with two key genes removed to prevent it from affecting healthy cells, the scientists said.
Source: Medindia
Red Hair Gene Linked to Serious Form of Skin Cancer
A new study suggests that the gene which is responsible for red hair increases the risk of worst form of skin cancer by more than a 100 times.
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Some patients have been in remission for more than three years, the study said. Results were more pronounced in patients with less advanced skin cancer and in those who had no prior treatment, indicating T-VEC could be a first-line treatment. Among 163 patients with less advanced melanoma, people treated with T-VEC survived an average of 41 months compared to 21.5 months for 66 patients treated with other therapy.
"There is increasing excitement over the use of viral treatments like T-VEC for cancer, because they can launch a two-pronged attack on tumors - both killing cancer cells directly and marshaling the immune system against them," said Kevin Harrington from The Institute of Cancer Research.
The drug uses a version of the herpes virus with two key genes removed to prevent it from affecting healthy cells, the scientists said.
Source: Medindia
Herpes Virus Rearranges Telomeres to Improve Viral Replication: Study
A team of scientists, led by researchers at The Wistar Institute, has found that an infection with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) causes rearrangements in telomeres.
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 Herpes Virus Exploits Immune Response to Cause InfectionResearchers have said that the herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) exploits an immune system receptor to boost its infectivity. | Advertisement
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