Treat cancer with the measles virus?

It is said that the combination of immunotherapy and virotherapy effectively kills cancer cells

In the treatment of cancer, doctors are hoping for new approaches in immunotherapy. Here, for example, the badociation of immunotherapy with modified measles virus-based virotherapy is a promising option for research of which Dr. med. Dr. Christine Engeland of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg recently received the Anita and Friedrich Reutner Award.

The team around Dr. Dr. Christine Engeland is working on a combination of immunotherapy with virotherapy. "Virotherapy exploits the fact that some viruses infect the cells of the body, multiply and burst," say the experts in a press release published by the Heidelberg University Hospital. In their research, researchers used measles viruses when used for vaccination. "In the lab, we were able to show mice that our altered measles virus is delaying the growth of colorectal cancer," reports Dr. med. Dr. Engeland.

Activate the body's defenses against cancer

Nearly half a million people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer each year. Effective treatment methods always require urgent care. Immunotherapy offers here a rather promising approach. It activates the body's own defense mechanisms against cancer cells. For example, "the so-called checkpoint inhibitors can be used to release some of the immune system brakes that often prevent immune cells from fighting cancer cells," reports the Heidelberg University Hospital.

Viruses can specifically infect cancer cells

It has also been shown that so-called oncolytic viruses, such as herpes simplex virus, vaccinia virus and other viruses, specifically infect cancer cells carrying certain sites to moor on their surface or in which the pathways badociated with cell growth are altered, the researchers reported. When the viruses are released, the cancer cells are destroyed and the immune system is activated.

Combination of different therapeutic approaches

Based on these findings, Dr. Engeland and colleagues have modified the measles virus in their investigations to release the immune system's brakes and kill cancer cells more precisely. "We supplement the measles virus with antibodies against various immune system brakes," says the researcher. These viruses were able to specifically infect the cancer cells, initiate the production of antibodies in the cells and cause them to burst. The released antibodies thus activate the immune system directly on the spot, so that it acts against the remaining cancer cells.

Reduced side effects

One of the main advantages of this method lies in the fact that the production of antibodies takes place directly in the tumor, which reduces the side effects that often occur during an application throughout the entire body. body, reports the Heidelberg University Hospital. In the laboratory, scientists have already shown that altered measles viruses delay the growth of colorectal cancer. Currently, research is focused on direct contact between immune cells and cancer cells. Until now, the problem exists "often, immune cells do not find and sufficiently recognize malignant cells," says Dr. med. Dr. Engeland. In order to overcome this, special structures (called MV-BiTE, bispecific T cell capture systems encoded by the measles virus) have been incorporated into measles viruses that bind to both cancer cells and cells. Immunity.

First clinical trial planned for next year

Through the measles virus, these connectors are transported directly into the tumor and released where they "link" cancer cells and immune cells to the site, reports Dr. med. Dr. Engeland and his colleagues. Again, they have already proven the effectiveness of the approach in mouse models for skin cancer and colon cancer. Next year, the first national study on immuno-virotherapy with nationally-altered measles viruses will begin at NCT. According to the Heidelberg University Hospital, parallel research on the patient's cells and blood samples will monitor the changes that lead to treatment in the patient. (Fp)