Scientists will treat cancer with the help of the herpes virus
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
As is known, almost every second inhabitant of the planet is infected with Herpes virus. If you do not start the course of the disease and start treatment on time, the illness quickly passes. Surprisingly, this harmless virus may become a powerful weapon against malignant neoplasms.
Doctors of British clinic Royal Marsden Hospital have developed a drug for the treatment of cancer. A genetically modified herpes virus was introduced to seventeen cancer patients. Then all patients underwent a course of chemotherapy. As a result, 16 of them had no cancer cells after surgery.
Combining traditional treatment and treatment with herpes virus can achieve amazing results. How does this new drug work? It turns out that the cause of cancer is the destruction of DNA, so this drug "removes" the damaged gene, which prevents further spread of the tumor.
It is planned that with the license of the drug developers a new drug will be available at the end of this year for patients in the US and Europe.
[