Measles virus as a weapon against cancer?

Measles is not typically thought of in positive ways.  Even with the availability of a vaccine against the virus, over 100,000 people die from measles infections each year.   Researchers at the University of Texas and the Mayo Clinic have shown how proteins on the surface of the virus change shape to allow it to enter target cells.  An in-depth understanding of how the virus attacks cells is crucial if clinicians are going to be able to design viruses that can attack cancer cells and leave normal cells unharmed.