Researchers from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, US recently published an encouraging study in the journal ‘Molecular Cancer’. After laboratory tests, they found that the pure-state AAV2 virus, harmless to infected humans, has the ability to kill different types of cancer cells, including breast cancer cells, the main reason for mortality among cancer-stricken women. The better news is that the virus proved effective regardless of the stage of the disease.

According to these findings, in a matter of seven days, cancer cells were 100% eliminated. However, it took three weeks for late-stage breast cancer cells to be eradicated. The only problem is, if the virus is directly introduced into a host, the body’s immune system could fight it off. That is why researchers need to further their findings in order to find the exact mechanism through which the virus kills cancerous cells. ‘If we can determine which viral genes are being used, we may be able to introduce those genes into a therapeutic. If we can determine which pathways the virus is triggering, we can then screen new drugs that target those pathways. Or we may simply be able to use the virus itself,’ said lead author Dr. Samina Alam.

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