Freethought & Rationalism Archive

ps418 · 05-08-2003, 07:58 AM

In yesterday's issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, there is a report of a very succesful treatment of malignant glioma tumors in mice using adenovirus "smart bombs." Glioma tumurs, as the name implies, originate from glial cells. They account for about 50% of all brain tumors in humans. The treatment in these mice resulted in symptom-free, long-term survival for 60% of the mice, compared to 15% with an earlier adenovirus. Phase I clinical trials are expected to begin late in 2004, according to the press release.

Quote:

Mice in each experiment were divided into three groups of six to 10 animals and all received injections directly into the brain tumors. The mean survival time for mice in the control group, which received a placebo was 19 days. Of 26 mice that were treated with Delta-24, four (15 percent) were considered cured because they survived for more than four months, or to the end of the experiment. But 15 of 25 (60 percent) of mice that received Delta-24-RGD were symptom-free, long-term survivors, says Fueyo. Although researchers don't know why some mice treated with Delta-24-RGD did not survive, they theorize that, due to natural variation, some animals may have needed a bigger dose of the therapy.

Smart Virus Eliminates Brain Cancer In Animal Experiments

Fueyo et al, Preclinical Characterization of the Antiglioma Activity of a Tropism-Enhanced Adenovirus Targeted to the Retinoblastoma Pathway. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Vol. 95, No. 9, 652-660, May 7, 2003.

Patrick

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