LINDA AND CAROLYN IN SPLIT MOUNTAIN GORGE
Sure wish they were here now
Here is a meaty, somewhat lengthy, but quite understandable and
even entertaining essay on using virus as a weapon against cancer. Not just any old virus, obviously – specially
selected or genetically modified virus called “oncolytic viruses”. One, related to the herpes virus, is in
present use against melanoma. Another
has been shown to be effective against glioblastoma (Senator McCain, take note). Oncolytic viruses are a hot topic right
now.
It appears that an oncolytic virus (OV) introduced into a
tumor cell will do the old virus trick; use the tumor DNA to manufacture
millions of baby OV, eventually causing the tumor cell to burst, thus releasing
more OV to attack more tumor cells. And
etc., etc., etc.
But what about metastases? Well, it seems to transpire that fragments of exploded tumor cell floating
around in the blood stream somehow alert the immune system to the fact that
something is wrong and – ideally – hunt down more such cells, and snuff them
out.
Ideally. Much work
being done. Cross your fingers.
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