A Viral Attack against Brain Tumors

Technology Review ^ | March 03, 2008 | Jennifer Chu

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

This year, more than 21,000 people will be diagnosed with some form of brain cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. While benign forms are relatively easy to treat, malignant tumors require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Even then, tumor cells may remain deeply lodged, replicating and spreading quickly through healthy brain tissue.

Now researchers at Yale University have found that a virus that's in the same family as rabies effectively kills an aggressive form of human brain cancer in mice. Using time-lapse laser imaging, the team watched vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) rapidly home in on brain tumors, selectively killing cancerous cells in its path, while leaving healthy tissue intact.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

I found this interesting. Did a search and couldn't find it anywhere.... If its been posted already my apologies.

[2Jedismom]

Interesting...

[techcor]

Several years ago they had a case or two of people who caught the Newcastle disease virus and had their tumors disappear. In the article they state how they are breeding up the viruses to be most effective. Instead of “nano-bots” or “nanites” I think these should be called “nano-mals”.

[ichabod1]

This year, more than 21,000 people will be diagnosed with some form of brain cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. While benign forms are relatively easy to treat, malignant tumors...

Anybody see any problem with this statement? Anybody? Bueller?

[PrairieLady2]

"form of brain cancer" v benign forms. umhum, i see it. Interesting doublespeak. Good catch!

[SuziQ]

That would be outstanding, if it could work, because the typical treatments for brain cancer and tumors, radiation and chemo, can be so debilitating!