In 1947, the Zika virus emerged, afflicting humanity, but now, scientists are leveraging its cell-damaging prowess to combat a distinct adversary: cancer.
A recent study, unveiled on January 9 in Cancer Research Communications, delves into the application of the Zika virus in treating mice implanted with cells from human neuroblastoma tumors, a form of nerve-tissue cancer. Post-injection of Zika, these mice witnessed nearly complete tissue demise, resulting in prolonged survival.
Joseph Mazar, a research scientist at Nemours Children Hospital in Orlando, Florida, and the study's primary author, conveyed the remarkable findings to Live Science. "The disparity was astounding," he shared. "This is an unprecedented occurrence. We achieved 80% to 90% efficacy. The tumors were obliterated — a solitary injection, no recurrence, and no symptoms." Viral Intervention in Cancer Treatment The notion of employing viruses as a tool against cancer is not novel.
Dating back to the 1800s, anecdotal accounts hinted at cancer patients' health improvements post-infection with specific viruses like influenza, hepatitis, measles, or smallpox. Termed oncolytic viruses due to their capability to target and harm cancer cells, these viruses were outlined in a 2023 review in Biochimie.
While initial efforts to harness these viruses were fruitless, the 1990s saw breakthroughs in genetic engineering techniques and lab-made DNA, enabling researchers to fine-tune viruses for enhanced specificity and safety. Presently, only four viruses hold approval as targeted cancer treatments. For instance, a modified herpes virus for malignant glioma is sanctioned in Japan, and another for advanced melanoma is approved in the U.S. Numerous other cancer-killing viruses are undergoing clinical trials.
Given this history, the question arises: why opt for Zika?
Known for stunting brain growth in developing fetuses, Zika has an inclination for immature nerve cells. Dr. Tamarah Westmoreland, a pediatric surgeon at Nemours Children Hospital and senior author of the study, and her team probed whether the virus could effectively target neuroblastoma.
Neuroblastoma, originating from immature nerve cells, stands as one of the most prevalent cancers in infants, marked by dismal survival rates despite rigorous treatments. Current treatments for high-risk tumors, carrying a grim prognosis, entail severe side effects.
The study involved extracting high-risk neuroblastoma cells from patients with failed prior treatments and implanting them into mice, resulting in tumor development. The tumors were then directly injected with an unaltered Zika virus, consistently eradicating them without any signs of recurrence.
Zika infections typically manifest mild or no symptoms, and the treated mice displayed no significant side effects.
Mazar elaborated, "Upon delivery, we witness complete obliteration of the tumors, with the surrounding tissue returning to a completely normal state."
Westmoreland emphasized the potential role of Zika in bridging therapies during radiation or surgery for children enduring intensive treatments. She stated, "Zika virus can step in and serve as a bridge therapy at the time of radiation or surgery … and can clean up [what is left of] the high-risk neuroblastoma."
The study disclosed that neuroblastomas expressing elevated levels of a specific protein, CD24, are especially susceptible to Zika-induced cell damage and demise. CD24 is expressed by various cancers, suggesting Zika's potential applicability against other tumor types.
Dr. Milan Chheda, director of neuro-oncology at Washington University in St. Louis, commended the work, stating, "This is exciting as it implies that Zika virus's cell-killing effects can be applied across cancer types, beyond prior demonstrations." While offering a new tool against neuroblastoma, a devastating disease, it emphasizes the need for further exploration.
Though not ready for human applications, the researchers experimented with infecting human patients' extracted neuroblastoma tumors with Zika virus in the lab. The results mirrored those in mice, reinforcing the virus's potential efficacy in human cancer treatment.
Mazar highlighted Zika's unique attributes, describing it as a "perfect storm" with unparalleled specificity for certain cells. He expressed confidence in its applicability to human tumors and individuals. Despite robust viral production within the tumor, minimal viral shedding outside the tumor suggests Zika's potential as a safe adjunct or alternative in cancer therapy.
Westmoreland and Mazar anticipate the transition to human trials in the coming years, given Zika's effectiveness against human tumors in the mouse model.
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