In a breakthrough invention, Scientists have created a new kind of virus that can cure not just one but several types of cancer, shrinking the tumour as well.
The cowpox-style virus recently tested on mice not only killed cancer but also shrunk the size of the tumor, DC reports.
Australian biotech company Imugene has been developing the treatment CF33. The company hopes this can also cure breast cancer patients by next year.
US cancer specialist Professor Yuman Fong is currently heading the clinical trials in Australia on patients with melanoma, bladder, gastric and bowel cancer, lung cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
Scientists are positive and hopeful about this medicine that has given positive results when tested on mice, may give similar results when tested on Humans.
For instance, in the past, the common cold virus was used to cure brain cancer by scientists in the US which were successful to an extent where the tested patients reported their cancer disappeared for a few years, but, unfortunately, came back and in some, the tumours shrink considerably.
Similarly, another virus called Imlygic or T-Vec derived from sold sore virus was used to treat melanoma. Treating patients using this virus helped the body’s immune system identify the cancerous cells and destroy them.
“There was evidence that viruses could kill cancer from the early 1900s when people vaccinated against rabies had their cancer disappear, they went into remission,” Professor Fong said.