Good news on oncolytic virus front

I found a NET cancer video today everyone should watch. Dr. Kjell Oberg, who heads the oncology program at Uppsala University in Sweden presented a talk in November on the latest developments on the virus that eats NET cancer. The group has made substantial scientific progress since we first reported on it back in September.

iCancer continues to raise money for the potential trial.

They have made a number of changes to the virus to make it significantly safer than it was when first developed. The most recent animal model test shows the new form of the virus infects only NET cancer cells. A final series of tweaks to the exterior of the virus has created a form the group received a patent on.

Virus takes advantage of NET cancer features

The redesigned adenovirus attacks NET cancer in three different ways. The cells it infects are killed in the process of the virus replicating itself. The  virus also stimulates the immune response in the patient so that the body’s own t-cells begin to attack the tumor. Finally, the virus kills the cancer’s stem cells so that mutations are less likely.

…the worst side effects would likely be flu-like symptoms.

Unlike the Seneca Valley Virus (SVV) developed in the US, the Uppsala Virus was designed specifically to take on NET cancer. The SVV has been tried on NET cancer here and does seem to have efficacy  in humans, but that virus was designed for a different set of cancers that share some of NET cancer’s physical features. The Uppsala Virus should theoretically prove even more effective on NET cancer.

Seneca Valley Virus also holds NET cancer promise

The SVV has just completed a Phase I trial in the US that involved about 30 patients. It was well tolerated and a second trial for dose escalation is ongoing while preparations are made for a Phase II double-blind trial on small cell lung cancer.

…trial for dose escalation is ongoing…

Researchers seem encouraged by those results and think the virus has a future in treating a number of different cancers, including NET cancer.

Uppsala Virus still faces hurdles

The Uppsala Virus is still a long way from a Phase I trial because of financial issues. Oberg hinted things may be improving on that front, but said even once funding for the trial is in place it will still take about 18 months before the trial can start. The reason for that is the group will still have to set up to produce sufficient quantities of the virus in pure enough form to do the trials. That trial would also have to pass muster before the university’s ethics committee.

…the virus kills the cancer’s stem cells.

Oberg said the first trials of the Uppsala Virus would be on NET cancer in the prostate.

He said the worst side effects would likely be flu-like symptoms.

Fundraising for Uppsala trial extended

iCancer continues to raise money for the potential trial. As of this afternoon (January 16) the group had raised just over $152,000 of its $1 million goal. The effort has been extended through February 14. The group began raising money for the Uppsala virus early last fall.

…the virus that eats NET cancer.

The video is in two parts. The first covers the body of the talk and runs about 30 minutes. The second covers the Q&A period that followed the talk and runs just over 15 minutes. The presentation was not difficult for an educated layman to follow.