Friday 23 September 2022 02:05 AM London scientists find cancer tumours in terminally ill patients are eradicated ... trends now
A genetically-engineered herpes virus is the new hope to beat cancer after scientists found tumours in terminally ill patients were eradicated or shrunk using the groundbreaking new therapy.
An early trial at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in London revealed that a modified version of the herpes simplex virus showed signs of effectiveness in a quarter of patients with end-of-life cancer.
The infection - which also causes mouth and sexually transmitted sores - works on cancer by producing molecules to spark an immune system response and infecting and destroying the cancer.
It was tested on 39 patients with cancers including people suffering from skin, oesophageal and head and neck tumours.
A patient from West London has hailed it as a 'true miracle' after he was able to go back to work as a builder.
A genetically-engineered herpes virus is the new hope to beat cancer after scientists found tumours in terminally ill patients were eradicated using the new therapy. Pictured: Stock image
Krzysztof Wojkowski, 39, was diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid carcinoma, a type of salivary gland cancer, in May 2017 and after multiple surgeries, he was told that there were no treatment options left.
'I had injections every two weeks for five weeks which completely eradicated my cancer,' he said. 'I've been cancer free for two years now, it's a true miracle, there is no other word to describe it.
' I've been able to work as a builder again and spend time with my family, there's nothing I can't do.'
Mr Wojkowski added: 'I was told there were no options left for me and I was receiving end of life care, it was devastating, so it was incredible to be given the chance to join the trial at The Royal Marsden, it was my final lifeline.'
It was tested on 39 patients with cancers including skin, oesophageal and head and neck cancer including a patient from West London who hailed it as a 'true miracle' after he was able to go back to work as a builder (stock image of woman supporting patient)
The research team are hoping to move to bigger trials after they presented the study at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO).
Study leader Professor Kevin Harrington, Professor of Biological Cancer Therapies at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: 'Our study shows that a genetically engineered, cancer-killing virus can deliver a one-two punch against tumours – directly destroying cancer cells from within while also calling in the
