New Research Suggests That A Virus Capable Of Infecting And Destroying Plants May Actually Offer A Breakthrough For Metastatic Cancers
New research suggests that a virus capable of infecting and destroying plants may actually offer a breakthrough in combating widespread cancers in humans.
Cowpea mosaic virus, which is typically harmful to black-eyed pea plants but harmless to mammals, including humans, has been repurposed by researchers at UC San Diego in a new study.
Utilizing the virus’s nanoparticles, they have developed a novel method for inhibiting tumor growth and preventing cancer recurrence.
In experiments conducted on mice, the researchers observed that the cowpea mosaic virus significantly enhanced survival rates among those with metastatic tumors from ovarian, colorectal, skin, and breast cancers.
Remarkably, the virus demonstrated efficacy even in mice subjected to tumor removal surgery. So, this innovative treatment holds promise in establishing an immune defense mechanism that guards against cancer recurrence post-surgery.
The study’s findings expand upon earlier research led by Professor Nicole Steinmetz, which investigated whether particles derived from the cowpea mosaic virus could provoke an immune reaction against cancer cells. In these experiments, the researchers administered the virus particles directly into tumors rather than allowing systemic distribution throughout the body.
Despite its benign nature in the body, experiments revealed that the cowpea mosaic virus actually elicited a response from the mammalian immune system, which identified it as foreign and prompted a reaction. Immune cells targeted the present tumors containing the cowpea mosaic virus and retained the memory to attack any future recurring tumors.
In her latest research, Steinmetz opted not to administer injections directly into the mouse tumors. Rather, she and her team utilized nanoparticles to enhance the body’s immune system on a systemic level. It’s akin to allowing the dispersion of this plant virus throughout the body, prompting a heightened immune response against threats such as cancerous tumors.
The findings suggest that this novel approach significantly enhanced survival rates across the mice population and effectively prevented the spread of cancer to other areas of the body.
Stock Rocket – stock.adobe.com – illustrative purposes only, not the actual person
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“Here, we do not treat established tumors or metastatic disease – we prevent them from forming,” Steinmetz said.
“We are providing a systemic treatment to wake up the body’s immune system to eliminate the disease before metastases even form and settle.”
One of the study’s most notable outcomes was the enhanced post-surgical recovery. In mice undergoing tumor removal surgery, the administration of cowpea mosaic virus nanoparticles reduced the risk of tumor recurrence, a prevalent concern among cancer patients undergoing surgical procedures.
“Even if you perform surgery to remove the tumors, no surgery is perfect, and there is an outgrowth of metastasis if no additional treatment is provided,” Steinmetz explained.
“Here, we use our plant virus nanoparticles after surgery to boost the immune system to reject any residual disease and prevent circulating tumor cells from metastatic seeding. We found that it works really, really well.”
Now, the researchers are eager to prepare for clinical trials, with the ultimate aim of progressing to human trials. They plan to conduct safety assessments and investigate the efficacy of the treatment among pets with cancer diagnoses.
To read the study’s complete findings, which have since been published in Advanced Science, visit the link here.
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