Mis fotos

        I have just found a very interesting news: “A virus `hidden´ in a cell demonstrating its safety in the treatment of childhood cancer”.

      A therapy, that uses a virus "hidden" in a cell, that makes "taxi", to take it to the tumor and destroy it, while stimulating the patient's immune system, has demonstrated its safety (lack of toxicity) in children with neuroblastoma , an aggressive childhood cancer.

        Infant Jesus Children's Hospital of Madrid is the only accredited for this cell therapy virus, which is possible thanks to the collaboration with the Institute of Health “Carlos III”.

      The treatment, known “Celyvir”, consists on mesenchymal cells (obtained from bone marrow), carrying genetically modified oncolytic virus, to the areas of the tumor, to destroy it, respecting healthy cells.

      “The strategy of "Trojan Horse" is used to "hide" the virus inside the cell”, said Dr. Javier Garcia Castro, from the Unit Cell Biotechnology at the Carlos III. "We use the intrinsic ability of cells, to reach the tumor for using it as a taxi", said the researcher.

      The body tends to attack the virus, that are detected and, in this case, the aim is that the virus travel, hidden in mesenchymal cells.

      Furthermore, it has been observed that "it is produced an effect called" to the immune system, that is stimulated and, indirectly, it can also attack the primary tumor and to metastases.

      The therapy, which is administered intravenously, has already been tested in a clinical phase I trial, in which have participated 10 children and 10 adults, with refractory solid tumors, which has been proven safe, although the clinical outcomes will not be made public until the end of the year.

      The beginnings of this research go back ten years ago and, since then, the therapy has been tried as compassionate use, in 20 children, mainly with neuroblastoma, the most common childhood solid tumor, after brain tumors. This cancer mortality is 40% and increases by 90%, in cases of relapse.

      The Dr. Manuel Ramirez Orellana, coordinator of the Research Laboratory of Onco-Hematology of the “Niño Jesus Hospital”, stressed that "have tried enough cases, to have an idea, that is the most important of our therapy: it is well tolerated by patients". In fact, he explained, “the maximum toxicity was transient fever ", which, in his view, is "a great news".

      The second "important" idea is that "it can offer benefits to patients", said Dr. Ramirez, who has stated that "we have also learned that, in order that there is benefit, the immune system has to react".

      Of the 20 children, treated in the compassionate use program, in one case the tumor was removed and, ten years later, it has not recurred; in other case, the disease also disappeared, but, after six months, there was a relapse; in a child, there was a stabilization, for two years, and, in three cases, they were obtained partial results.

      The research has advanced thanks to many factors, including the design of cancer virus, called ICOVIR- 5, conducted by the Dr. Ramon Alemany, from the Institute of Biomedical Research of Bellvige.

      The next step is to conduct a Phase II study, to demonstrate the efficacy, that probably will start next year, and the results will be gotten, two years later.

      The Dr. Ramirez has said that the drug will not be marketed, until five or six years, and it in case that the results, that researchers hope, are gotten and funding is achieved.

      Meanwhile, and until there is an open clinical trial, it will continue to administer as a compassionate use "but with a little more strict criteria".

      Well, I hope that you consider this news as important as I do.

      Until my next post, kind regards,

Luis.

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