Researchers injected a new “cancer-killing virus” into the first infected person to reduce the number of tumors in the animal.
The virus, called Vaxinia, was genetically engineered to infect, replicate, and kill cancer cells while maintaining healthy cells.
Animal tests have shown that it can reduce the risk of cancer of the colon, lung, breast, egg and pancreas.
Researchers say that while other immunotherapies, such as checkpoint inhibitors, are effective in some cancers, patients are more likely to relapse and eventually become less resistant to this type of treatment.
Vaxinia, on the other hand, improves the patient’s immune system, increases the level of a protein called PD-L1 in tumors, and makes immunotherapy more effective against cancer.
The virus, called Vaxinia, was genetically engineered to infect, replicate, and kill cancer cells while maintaining healthy cells.
Vaxinia, (full name CF33-hNIS VAXINIA), a type of “oncolytic virus” – a virus found in nature, genetically modified specifically to fight cancer.
It is being developed by Imugene Limited, which specializes in new therapies that activate the immune system against cancer.
“Our previous studies have shown that oncologists respond to cancer and trigger the immune system to kill it, as well as the immune system to respond to other immunotherapies, including checkpoint inhibitors,” said Daneng Li MD, chief research and assistant professor. Department of Medical Oncology and Therapeutic Research, Hope City.
“Now is the time to further enhance the power of immunotherapy and we believe that CF33-hNIS has the potential to improve the results of our patients in the fight against cancer.”
Phase 1 clinical trials targeted 100 cancer patients with metastatic or advanced solid tumors at approximately 10 test sites in the United States and Australia.
It is expected to last about 24 months.
Patients begin by taking a small dose of Vaxinia, either by injection or intravenously directly into the tumor.
Once the safety of the vaccine is proven, some participants receive an immunotherapy drug called pembrolizumab, which improves the immune system’s ability to fight cancer-causing cells.
“Interestingly, the same characteristics that make cancer cells resistant to chemotherapy or radiation treatment actually increase the success of oncolytic viruses such as CF33-hNIS,” said Yuman Fong MD, chairman of Sangiacomo’s family surgical oncology. The main developer of the genetically modified virus.
“We hope to use the promise of viral and immunotherapy to treat many deadly cancers.”
Imugene MD and CEO Leslie Chong said, “The dose of the first patient in our Vaxina study is an important milestone for Imugene and clinics facing the challenge of treating metastatic advanced solid tumors.
“Professor Yuman Fong and the City of Hope team did an excellent job of research.
“In addition to the positive pre-clinical results, we are very keen to unlock the potential of VaxinaVaxina and the oncolytic virotherapy platform.”
The vaccine strengthens the patient’s immune system and increases the level of a protein called PD-L1 in tumors, making immunotherapy more effective against cancer.
Although oncolytic viruses have been described as a “smoking tool” in the fight against cancer for more than a century, their success has so far been very limited.
Last year, for example, one of the viruses responsible for the flu promised to treat advanced skin cancer that could not be treated surgically.
In a clinical trial, live coxsackie virus, one of the many viruses that cause influenza, was used in combination with pembrolizumab.
The researchers found that the combination reduced melanoma tumors by almost half (47 percent) of the 36 men and women who received them every few weeks for at least two years.
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