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Study: Trojan horse cancer strategy eliminates disease in mice

Posted at 12:48 PM, Dec 23, 2012
and last updated 2012-12-23 13:01:35-05

Researchers in the UK said an experimental “Trojan horse” cancer therapy “completely eliminated” the disease in mice.

According to BBC News, the team hid cancer killing viruses inside the immune system in order to sneak them into a tumor.

Once inside, tens of thousands of viruses were released to kill the cancerous cells, according to a study in the journal Cancer Research.

The title of the study is: “Macrophage Delivery of an Oncolytic Virus Abolishes Tumor Regrowth and Metastasis After Chemotherapy or Irradiation.”

While experts labeled the study as “exciting,” human tests are still needed.

“There’s a problem with getting enough virus into the tumor,” Prof Claire Lewis from the University of Sheffield told the BBC.

Read more about the study from the BBC.