Wouldn't it be great to pit two of our biggest enemies against each other?
A drug made from a genetically modified form of the cold sore virus was used by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research to attack tumors in cancer patients' bodies.
The treatment seems to have saved at least one patient's life according to the report.
The patient, Krzysztof Wojowski from West London, underwent experimental therapy after being diagnosed with salivary glands cancer.
He said that he was receiving end-of-life care. It was great to be able to join the trial.
There are many experimental treatments that don't work. This one appears to be the exception, at least for now, which may help blaze a trail to help other people as well.
Wojnowski said that he had injections every two weeks for five weeks. Two years ago, I was cancer-free.
The viruses are injected into the tumors. The immune system is activated to help finish the job when it is invaded by cancer cells.
Three out of nine patients who only received the injection had their tumors shrink, and seven out of 30 patients who received a combination of the two drugs also benefited. The researchers presented their findings at the congress.
"It is rare to see such good response rates in early stage clinical trials, as their primary aim is to test treatment safety, and they involve patients with very advanced cancer for whom current treatments have stopped working," said project lead researcher Kevin Harrington.
Even in a small trial, the results of using viruses to treat cancer are promising.
The new treatment for cancer turns cancer genes into signs for the immune system.
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