Tag Archives: herpes

Herpes Virus Could Be Fast-Tracked for Treating Severe Skin Cancer

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Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that can metastasize

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After years of research and extensive human trials, only one virus specifically engineered to target cancer has gained approval from US and European regulators. Following promising results in treating melanoma—a notably aggressive skin cancer—approval may soon be granted.

The genetically altered herpes virus, known as RP1, was injected into the tumors of 140 patients with advanced melanoma who did not respond to conventional treatments. All participants also received a medication called nivolumab, designed to enhance the immune response against the tumors.

In 30% of the treated individuals, tumors shrank, including those that were not directly injected. Notably, in half of these cases, the tumors were completely eradicated.

“Half of the patients who responded experienced a complete response, meaning total disappearance of all tumors,” said Gino Kim from the University of Southern California. “I am thrilled with these results,” he added, noting that other treatments for patients at this stage often perform poorly and have harsher side effects.

A larger trial involving 400 participants is currently in progress; however, RP1 may receive approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be used in conjunction with Nivolumab for treating advanced melanoma before the trial concludes. The New Scientist reports that “the FDA is anticipated to make a decision by the end of this month.”

For over a century, it has been recognized that viral infections can aid in cancer treatment, though intentionally infecting someone with a “wild” virus poses significant risks. In the 1990s, scientists attempted to genetically modify viruses to effectively target cancer while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

These engineered viruses function in two main ways: First, they directly invade cancer cells, causing them to rupture and die. Secondly, they stimulate immune responses aimed at all cancer cells present in the body.

For instance, T-VEC, a modified herpes simplex virus, was engineered to release an immune-boosting factor called GM-CSF within infected tumor cells. T-VEC received approval in 2015 in both the US and Europe for treating inoperable melanoma.

Unfortunately, T-VEC’s use is limited as it was only tested and approved for injection into skin tumors. Many patients with advanced melanoma have deeper tumor locations, as noted.

With RP1, the strategy shifted to administering it into deeper tumors. RP1, like T-VEC, is a herpes simplex virus but has undergone various enhancements. It notably aids in fusing tumor cells with adjacent ones, thus boosting viral spread within the tumor and reinforcing the immune response.

Though there have been no direct comparisons between T-VEC and RP1, RP1 demonstrates a greater likelihood of reducing all tumors, rather than just those directly injected. “It indicates a more pronounced systemic effect,” experts state.

Thus, should RP1 gain approval, its application is expected to be far broader than that of T-VEC. Experts believe this could significantly enhance the overall interest in utilizing cancer-targeting viruses. “There seems to be increasing enthusiasm for this approach.”

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Purple passionflower utilized by researchers for herpes treatment

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Viruses are infectious agents that affect all living things, including humans. A common human virus called herpes simplex virusor HSV, can cause cold sores, genital infections, fingertip and eye infections. When HSV infects the eye, it is called: HSV keratitis. This infection can cause visual impairment, blindness, and swelling of the brain.

The standard way for doctors to treat HSV infections is with an antiviral drug called . Acyclovir. However, the drug has been found to be no longer effective in treating some HSV infections. Persistent infections are called Acyclovir resistance infection. Therefore, scientists are searching for new ways to treat HSV infections.

Scientists at Nanjing University in China tested 502 natural compounds to determine if any could be used to treat HSV keratitis. The researchers took kidney cells from African green monkeys, treated them with these natural compounds, and infected them with the virus.

After two days, they examined the cells under a microscope to see how much damage each compound prevented compared to untreated infected cells. control sample. Out of all 502 compounds tested, the one that best protects cells from viral infection was found to be present in purple passionflower. The name of the compound is Harmol, And they reported that it inhibited more than 90% of HSV in kidney cells.

The scientists further investigated Harmol’s anti-HSV properties by testing whether it was toxic to host kidney cells. If Harmol is toxic to uninfected cells, it may kill the cells instead of protecting them from the virus. They tested nine concentrations of harmol on cells, ranging from 0 micromolar to 250 micromolar harmol. They found that the compound protected against viruses and did not kill host cells at a concentration of 12.5 micromolar.

They then studied how harmol affects virus replication and the production of viral proteins and particles within host cells. They found that Harmol inhibited HSV growth and reproduction, even in acyclovir-resistant infections. Scientists also reported that Harmol treatment inhibited HSV growth when added before, during, and after HSV infection. However, the sooner it is added, the more effective it is, and it is most effective when added before infection.

The scientists then tested whether Harmol worked in mice. They wanted to determine whether Harmol would be safe and effective for treating live animals with HSV keratitis, rather than cells alone. First, the scientists investigated whether Harmol solution could be safely applied to the eyes of mice. They applied Harmol to the eyes of one group of mice and saline to the eyes of a control group. They examined the mice’s body weight and cornea over a five-day period and found that Harmol had no effect on either compared to mice given saline. They suggested that this means Harmol is a safe treatment for mice with HSV keratitis.

Next, the scientists infected three groups of mice with HSV. They treated the first group with acyclovir, the second group with Harmol, but left the third group untreated. They administered Harmol eye drops daily for five days and observed the mice on the third and fifth day. They reported that Harmol-treated mice performed better than untreated mice in all the characteristics they observed. Harmol-treated mice fed HSV had less damage to the cornea, less eyelid inflammation, less weight loss, decreased corneal thickness, and central nervous density compared to untreated mice fed HSV. was high. They found that this was also true in mice infected with acyclovir-resistant HSV.

The researchers concluded that Harmol can reduce the early symptoms of HSV keratitis in mice. Therefore, they proposed that Harmol could be an antiviral agent against HSV. Because harmol and acyclovir interact differently with acyclovir-resistant HSV, scientists believe the two compounds must inhibit HSV in different ways. However, they noted that one limitation of the study was that the mice were only tested for five days after infection. They said further researchers should investigate the long-term safety and efficacy of Harmol treatment for HSV keratitis.


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Source: sciworthy.com