For the first time ever, a intravenous injection 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. has been shown to be able to target and kill cancer cells. The trial used a modified vaccinia virus (JX-5694), a type of virus used to make vaccines. Importantly, the virus was able to move through the body and specifically attack cancer cells without harming normal cells. The test was designed to see if the virus could find the cancer cells (and not test how well it would work) but even a single injection resulted in positive results for some of the patients. In addition to the natural ability of the virus to kill cancer cells, the research showed that the virus might be able to deliver additional toxic genes to the cancer cells.
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