London scientists find cancer tumours in terminally ill patients are eradicated by herpes virus - Daily Mail

A genetically-engineered herpes virus is the new hope to beat cancer after scientists found tumours in terminally ill patients were eradicated or shrunk using the groundbreaking new therapy. .

An early trial at the Institute for Cancer Research (ICR) in London revealed that a modified version of the herpes simplex virus showed signs of effectiveness in a quarter of patients with end-of-life cancer. .

It was tested on 39 patients with cancers including people suffering from skin, oesophageal and head and neck tumours. .

A genetically-engineered herpes virus is the new hope to beat cancer after scientists found tumours in terminally ill patients were eradicated using the new therapy.

'I had injections every two weeks for five weeks which completely eradicated my cancer,' he said.  'I've been cancer free for two years now, it's a true miracle, there is no other word to describe it.

It was tested on 39 patients with cancers including skin, oesophageal and head and neck cancer including a patient from West London who hailed it as a 'true miracle' after he was able to go back to work as a builder (stock image of woman supporting patient).

Study leader Professor Kevin Harrington, Professor of Biological Cancer Therapies at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said: 'Our study shows that a genetically engineered, cancer-killing virus can deliver a one-two punch against tumours – directly destroying cancer cells from within while also calling in the immune system against them.

'Our initial trial findings suggest that a genetically engineered form of the herpes virus could potentially become a new treatment option for some patients with advanced cancers – including those who haven't responded to other forms of immunotherapy

Three out of nine patients treated with herpes benefitted with one salivary gland cancer patient seeing his tumour disappear completely and remain free of cancer 15 months after starting treatment. 

In the group, four out of nine patients with melanoma skin cancer, two out of eight patients with the eye cancer uveal melanoma, and one out of three patients with head and neck cancer saw their cancer’s growth halt or shrink