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“Bait and switch” approach stimulates immune attack on cancer
December 20, 2017
Oncolytic (cancer-fighting) viruses have shown promise in the lab and the clinic because they can directly kill cancer cells while also stimulating the immune system to attack the cancer. Dr.
Jean-Simon Diallo
and his team recently discovered a novel approach to enhance this immune attack. They found that simple compounds containing the element vanadium can reprogram the immune system during oncolytic virus therapy, making it more likely to attack the tumour than the virus. In effect, the virus “baits” the immune system by triggering the tumour’s interferon defense system, while the vanadium “switches” this natural alarm signal into one that favours immune attack onto the tumour as opposed to the virus. In some mouse cancer models, this approach could cure 80 percent of animals, much higher than either the virus or vanadium on its own. This approach remains unproven in humans, but it could be tested relative quickly, as vanadium compounds have already proven safe in human clinical trials for diabetes. See
Molecular Therapy
for details.
Authors:
Selman M, Rousso C, Bergeron A, Son HH, Krishnan R, El-Sayes NA, Varette O, Chen A, Le Boeuf F, Tzelepis F, Bell JC, Crans DC, Diallo JS.
Acknowledgements:
This research was possible because of
generous support from the community for cancer research at The Ottawa Hospital
. This study was also funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Terry Fox Research Institute, the Canadian Cancer Society, the Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation and BioCanRx.
More info:
Viral therapy for cancer: Frequently asked questions from patients and families
The Ottawa Hospital: Inspired by research. Driven by compassion
The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada’s largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Our focus on research and learning helps us develop new and innovative ways to treat patients and improve care. As a multi-campus hospital, affiliated with the University of Ottawa, we deliver specialized care to the Eastern Ontario region, but our techniques and research discoveries are adopted around the world. We engage the community at all levels to support our vision for better patient care. See www.ohri.ca for more information about research at The Ottawa Hospital.
University of Ottawa: —A crossroads of cultures and ideas
The University of Ottawa is home to over 50,000 students, faculty and staff, who live, work and study in both French and English. Our campus is a crossroads of cultures and ideas, where bold minds come together to inspire game-changing ideas. We are one of Canada’s top 10 research universities—our professors and researchers explore new approaches to today’s challenges. One of a handful of Canadian universities ranked among the top 200 in the world, we attract exceptional thinkers and welcome diverse perspectives from across the globe. www.uottawa.ca
Media Contact
Jennifer Ganton
Director, Communications and Public Relations
Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Office: 613-798-5555 x 73325
Cell: 613-614-5253
jganton@ohri.ca