The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently gave the green light to a cancer treatment created by PrimeVax Immuno-Oncology Inc. that involves the use of a virusThe smallest type of organism known. A single virus particle (called a virion) is much smaller than a cell. Viruses reproduce by invading cells and forcing the cells to make progeny virions. Viruses generally have specific host cells which they infect. Some virus types are associated with specific cancers and can convert normal cells into cancer cells. Examples of viruses associated with cancer are: papillomavirus-cervical cancer, hepatitis virus-liver cancer, Epstein-Barr virus-Burkitt's lymphoma. Virus-induced transformation of cells was one of the very first model systems for the study of cancer. Viruses have also been a key tool in the identification of many oncogenes. Because of their great ability to enter target cells viruses such as adenoviruses are being examined for their ability to deliver genes to cancer cells. called the dengue virus. Like many other viruses, the dengue virus causes the patient to have a fever. However, the good thing about fevers is that they can wake up our immune system―our main defense against disease.
Scientists plan to mix the virus with cells called dendritic cells. These immune cells carry little flags on them (called antigens) that alert other immune cells (T cells and B cells) which do the actual fighting. The initial study will be done in a small number of patients with melanoma skin cancer.
If all works as hoped, the immune response to the virus will also create a powerful response to the cancer. As a bonus, the treatment will last only one week!
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