IMMUNOLOGY Researchers from LIFE - Faculty of Life Sciences at University of Copenhagen document in the new project, the virus Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) plays a previously unknown dual role in the fight against a number of cancers. The new findings show that the virus both kills cancer cells while brakes expression of the molecules which certain types of cancer cells produce to hide from the immune system.

Certain types of cancer cells expressing excessive amounts of liquid immunostimulatory molecules. Thereby blocking the immune system's recognition and continue the development of cancer: - The overstimulation, which occur in cancers like melanoma, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer and certain types of leukemia, weakens the immune system tremendously. That way impaired ability of the patient to get well, says associate professor of immunology Søren Skov from LIFE - Faculty of Life Sciences. Søren Skov leads a research team that has just initiated a comprehensive EU project to investigate the potential for better cancer treatment by boosting the immune system.

Cancer cell killing virus

As part of the research project, PhD student Helle Jensen infected human cancer cells with VSV virus. Virus may be the future of cancer medicine - We could demonstrate that the virus kills cancer cells. The results also show that VSV effectively blocks the production of the immunostimulatory molecules which certain cancers express in excessive quantity to destroy the immune system and thus survival.

A clear breakthrough

It is a clear breakthrough and a huge step towards better cancer treatment. The immune system is quite another chance to slow the progression of cancer, when it is not put out of the game. Moreover, one can mutate the virus so that it can be adapted to the type of cancer in question. Therefore, there is potential for that in the future we can have an alternative to chemotherapy that is tailored to the individual patient, emphasizes Associate Professor Søren Skov. - The next step is to do clinical trials in humans. It is already underway in the US, says Helle Jensen, who has done research at LIFE in collaboration with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Copenhagen and DTU Veterinary Institute on the island Lindholm. The research results have just been published in the scientific journal PLoS ONE. Source: KU