Trial reveals modified herpes virus as potential melanoma treatment

Advances in the treatment of disease have recently taken another step forward with the discovery that a genetically engineered version of the virus that causes cold sores could be used in the treatment of skin cancer.

While the treatment — which works by injecting the modified herpes virus into tumours where it replicates substances which help to fight cancer — isn’t licensed yet, it is thought it could increase survival rates for cancers such as melanoma. Interestingly, similar immunotherapy treatment for this disease is already available in the US and Europe and it is hoped that T-Vec would be able to add to this therapy.

A study was carried out  — the largest randomised trial of an anti-cancer virus involving 436 patient from the UK, US, Canada and South Africa with inoperable malignant melanoma.

Prof Kevin Harrington, from the Institute of Cancer Research, led the UK trial on this development. He told the BBC: “"There is increasing excitement over the use of viral treatments like T-Vec for cancer, because they can launch a two-pronged attack on tumours — both killing cancer cells directly and marshalling the immune system against them.

"And because viral treatment can target cancer cells specifically, it tends to have fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy or some of the other new immunotherapies."

Pursuing the benefits of immunotherapies are important goals for many drug companies at the moment. Later this year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference will contain a strong focus on this topic, highlighting the excitement surrounding this area of expertise at the moment.

AstraZeneca is one company developing treatment in this area. It is currently working on drug combinations in immuno-oncology