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Prof. Byram Bridle, University of Guelph
Credit: University of Guelph
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A breakthrough in a cancer study in animals
conducted by Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph will
transform the the cancer therapy in humans.The findings in study conducted by
the researchers in mice and in other animals such as cats are paving way for
human clinical trials for various types of cancer.
They have found that injecting oncolytic viruses (viruses that
target cancer cells) intravenously into the spleen allows immune responses to
be boosted much more rapidly and to much higher magnitudes than traditional
vaccine methods. Typically, physicians need to wait weeks or months to
administer a booster vaccine, with the down time potentially deadly.
As per Professor Byram Bridle, lead author of the paper, the
will help in reducing the delay in giving booster vaccine were we have to wait till
the immune response is down. The new invention
where the oncolytic viruses are injected directly into the spleen will bypass the regulatory mechanism that would
limit its effectiveness. When they done it in tests in animals, they saw high
success rates in treatment of cancer.
The findings from the study will help in the treatment of many types of cancer, including breast cancer,
leukemia, prostate cancer and osteosarcoma (bone cancer), and tumours in the
brain, liver and skin.
The researchers from Guelph and McMaster University conducted
the tests in mice, and in cats brought to the OVC Animal Cancer Centre. Trials
on dogs should begin within the next year.Under traditional treatment options,
the tumours grew and mice died. When the researchers started injecting the
viruses into the spleen, the tumours disappeared.
"By getting the vaccine to this unique
location in the body, we were able to get an unprecedented immune response in
minimal time," said Bridle.
"This is a fundamentally new way to treat cancer that
bypasses many common side effects. These therapies are safer and more
targeted."
The findings are already leading to clinical trials for people
in Ottawa, Hamilton and Toronto.
Bridle said the study could help researchers in other fields,
including those looking to treat virulent diseases such as dengue fever and
Ebola.
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