BIG DISCOVERY! Scientists Finally Create VIRUS That KILLS Cancer Cells

GetsetflySCIENCE by Gaurav Thakur

21 Aug 202314:10

Summary

TLDRThe script explores the innovative use of viruses in cancer treatment, a concept that dates back to the early 20th century. It discusses the historical trials and modern advancements in oncolytic virotherapy, where genetically engineered viruses target and destroy cancer cells. The narrative highlights the journey from initial experiments to the development of therapies like the modified vaccinia virus, which has shown promise in treating various cancers with minimal side effects. The script also touches on the potential of this technology to make cancer a curable disease and its affordability in India, contrasting it with the high costs in other countries.

Takeaways

🧬 The script discusses the use of viruses as a form of cancer treatment, highlighting the innovative approach of harnessing the natural abilities of viruses to target and destroy cancer cells.
🔬 Scientists have been experimenting with various viruses, including the common flu and hepatitis B, to observe their effects on cancer cells, with some trials showing a reduction in tumor size.
💉 The concept of using viruses to cure cancer dates back to 1904, with early trials involving the influenza virus, and has evolved significantly with the advent of genetic engineering.
🛑 Despite initial successes, some trials were halted due to severe side effects and patient deaths, emphasizing the need for caution and rigorous testing in medical research.
🛠 The development of genetic engineering has allowed for the modification of viruses to be more cancer-specific, improving the safety and efficacy of viral therapies.
🧩 The script mentions the creation of a genetically modified virus, Onyx-015, designed to target only cancer cells with deactivated p53 protein, avoiding harm to healthy cells.
🔄 Onyx-015 faced challenges with rapid replication and the transmission of genetic modifications to the next generation of the virus, which affected its effectiveness against cancer.
🌟 The script introduces the use of the smallpox virus, which is already familiar to the human immune system, as a platform for cancer treatment to avoid unexpected side effects.
🛑 The modified smallpox virus was engineered to produce specific proteins that would target, infect, and destroy cancer cells while activating the immune system to attack the virus and cancer cells.
🐁 Animal trials were conducted with promising results, leading to human trials for this novel cancer therapy, demonstrating the step-by-step progression from lab to clinical application.
🌍 The script concludes by emphasizing the potential of viral therapies to make cancer treatments more affordable and accessible, while also cautioning about the ethical implications and risks associated with such powerful medical interventions.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed in the video script is the use of viruses for cancer treatment, specifically the history and development of oncolytic viruses.
What is an oncolytic virus?
-An oncolytic virus is a type of virus that can infect and destroy cancer cells, while also stimulating the immune system to attack the tumor.
Can you explain the historical context of using viruses for cancer treatment mentioned in the script?
-The script mentions that the concept of using viruses for cancer treatment dates back to 1904 when a patient with leukemia was observed to have their cancer regress following an infection with the influenza virus.
What was the significance of the 1950s trials mentioned in the script?
-The 1950s trials were significant because they were the first to formally test the idea of using viruses to treat cancer, although they resulted in the death of many patients due to the uncontrolled nature of the virus used.
What is the role of the p53 protein in cancer cells as discussed in the script?
-The p53 protein is a tumor suppressor that normally regulates cell division and sends signals for the destruction of cells at the right time. In cancer cells, this protein is often deactivated, allowing cells to continue dividing and not die, contributing to tumor growth.
What is the name of the modified virus developed for cancer treatment as mentioned in the script?
-The modified virus developed for cancer treatment, as mentioned in the script, is called 'Onyx-015'.
How does the Onyx-015 virus specifically target cancer cells?
-Onyx-015 is genetically modified to target cancer cells with deactivated p53 protein, ignoring healthy cells and focusing on destroying cancerous ones.
What is the issue with the packaging capacity of an organism as it relates to the script's discussion on viruses?
-The issue with the packaging capacity of an organism, as discussed in the script, refers to the limit on the number of new genetic materials a virus can accept and pass on to the next generation, which can affect the effectiveness of the virus in treating cancer.
What is the significance of the smallpox virus in the script's discussion on cancer treatment?
-The smallpox virus is significant because it was considered for use in cancer treatment due to its ability to accommodate many new genes and its familiarity to the human immune system, which could potentially reduce side effects.
What is the role of the immune system in the context of the cancer treatment discussed in the script?
-The immune system plays a crucial role in the discussed cancer treatment as the modified virus is designed to alert the immune system to the presence of cancer cells, leading to an immune response that helps destroy the tumor.
What is the current status of the oncolytic virus treatment as per the script?
-As per the script, the oncolytic virus treatment is currently in various stages of clinical trials, with some trials showing promising results in reducing tumor sizes in patients with solid tumors.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Viral Therapy for Cancer Treatment

The first paragraph introduces Gaurav, an organizer, who discusses the use of viruses in treating diseases, specifically cancer. It mentions the success of human experiments with viruses in treating even terminal cancer stages. The script also delves into the history of using viruses for cancer treatment, starting from 1904 with a patient recovering from leukemia due to a viral infection. The discovery led to experiments by Dr. George Dock, who observed the cancer-killing mechanism of the viral infection. However, due to the lack of technology, his findings were only published on paper. Later, in the 1950s, Chester Southam, an oncologist, conducted trials injecting various viruses into cancer patients, with some showing tumor reduction but also severe side effects, leading to the halt of such studies. The paragraph concludes with the emergence of genetic engineering, which has changed the medical field significantly, including the development of the first genetically modified vaccine for hepatitis B.

05:02

🛠️ Reviving Viral Therapy with Genetic Engineering

The second paragraph describes the revival of viral therapy for cancer treatment in 1996 by cancer biologist Frank McCormick and his team. They used genetic engineering to modify the adenovirus, creating a new virus called ONYX-015, designed to target and destroy only cancer cells with inactive p53 protein. Lab tests showed ONYX-015 effectively targeted and killed cancer cells while ignoring normal cells. However, the virus faced replication and transmission issues to the next generation of cells. To overcome this, scientists modified the smallpox virus, which the human body is already familiar with, to avoid the problems faced by ONYX-015. The modified virus could accommodate more genes, making it more cancer-specific and easier for the immune system to detect and destroy cancer cells. The paragraph also discusses the process of viral multiplication within cells and the immune system's response to it.

10:04

💉 Clinical Trials and the Future of Viral Cancer Therapy

The third paragraph focuses on the clinical trials of the modified vaccinia virus as a cancer treatment. The virus was tested in animal trials with positive results, leading to human trials approved by the FDA. The first phase of human trials involved patients with solid tumors, and the treatment showed success in reducing tumors of various types. The paragraph also mentions the potential of a special protein in the virus to help in tumor detection and radiotherapy. The success of these trials has led to considerations for phase two and three trials involving thousands of patients. Additionally, the paragraph discusses a trial in Mumbai involving a fusion of the virus with immune system T-cells, known as CAR-T cell therapy, which is aggressive against cancer cells without side effects. The goal of this therapy in India is to make cancer treatment affordable. The paragraph concludes by reflecting on the progress of science in finding solutions for deadly diseases like cancer and the potential dangers of other drugs that are turning people into 'zombies'.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Virus

A virus is a small infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism. In the context of the video, viruses are discussed as a potential tool for treating cancer, which is a novel and significant shift from their traditional role as pathogens. The script mentions the use of viruses like the common flu virus and adenovirus in early trials for cancer treatment.

💡Cancer

Cancer refers to a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. The video's theme revolves around innovative treatments for cancer, highlighting the historical and ongoing efforts to cure this deadly disease using viral therapies.

💡Oncolytic Virus

An oncolytic virus is a type of virus that is capable of selectively infecting and killing cancer cells while leaving healthy cells largely unharmed. The script discusses the development and use of oncolytic viruses like Coxsackievirus A21 for cancer treatment, emphasizing their potential as a targeted therapy.

💡Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a set of technologies used to change the genetic material of organisms. In the video, genetic engineering is crucial for modifying viruses to enhance their cancer-killing abilities, creating oncolytic viruses that can be more precisely controlled and effective.

💡Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are research studies that explore whether a medical strategy, treatment, or device is safe and effective for humans. The script mentions the historical trials involving viruses for cancer treatment, as well as the more recent trials using genetically modified viruses, indicating the progression from early experiments to advanced, regulated studies.

💡Immune System

The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect the body from infections and diseases. The video discusses how oncolytic viruses can stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells more effectively, showcasing the immune system's role in cancer therapy.

💡Vaccine

A vaccine is a substance that helps a person's immune system fight off a disease by imitating an infection. The script refers to the development of the first genetically modified vaccine for hepatitis B, which was a precursor to the application of similar technology in cancer treatment.

💡p53 Protein

The p53 protein is a tumor suppressor protein that plays a critical role in preventing cancer by controlling cell cycle progression and promoting apoptosis. In the video, the p53 protein is mentioned in the context of how oncolytic viruses are engineered to target cancer cells with inactive p53, thus selectively attacking tumor cells.

💡Cytotoxic

Cytotoxic refers to substances that are toxic to cells, particularly cancer cells. The script discusses the modification of oncolytic viruses to produce cytotoxic substances within cancer cells, causing them to die and thus treating the tumor.

💡Viral Therapy

Viral therapy, also known as virotherapy, is an approach that uses viruses to treat diseases. In the context of the video, viral therapy is used specifically for treating cancer, with the script detailing the evolution of this approach from early trials to modern, genetically engineered oncolytic viruses.

💡Zombie Virus

The term 'zombie virus' is used metaphorically in the script to describe a drug that is said to turn people into 'living dead' or 'zombies' by altering their behavior. While not directly related to the main theme of cancer treatment, it is mentioned to illustrate the potential dangers of certain drugs in the future.

Highlights

Scientists are using a virus to treat cancer, a deadly disease, with the virus being referred to as 'oncovirus'.

Recent human experiments with oncovirus have been successful, including the treatment of late-stage cancer patients previously deemed incurable.

The oncovirus can potentially cure more than eight types of cancer, including breast and ovarian cancers.

The concept of using viruses for cancer treatment dates back to 1904 when a blood cancer patient was observed to have their cancer regress due to a viral infection.

Early trials in the 1950s involved injecting various viruses, such as the common flu and hepatitis B, into cancer patients to observe their effects.

Some patients showed signs of tumor reduction after being injected with viruses, indicating a potential therapeutic effect.

However, the trials were halted due to severe side effects and patient deaths, leading to the research being discontinued.

The advent of genetic engineering has led to the development of genetically modified viruses for targeted cancer treatment.

The modified virus, known as Onyx-015, targets only cancer cells with deactivated p53 protein, leaving healthy cells unaffected.

Onyx-015 was observed to selectively target and kill cancer cells in lab tests, without harming normal cells.

Challenges with Onyx-015 included its inability to replicate quickly and pass on genetic modifications to the next generation of viruses.

Scientists then explored using the smallpox virus, which is already familiar to the human immune system, to avoid side effects.

The smallpox virus was modified to carry genes that produce proteins specifically toxic to cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

The modified virus was designed to activate the human immune system to attack the virus, thereby also targeting and killing cancer cells.

Animal trials showed promising results, leading to permission for human trials to begin.

Phase I trials in 2022 involved injecting the virus into patients with advanced solid tumors, with initial results indicating the treatment's effectiveness.

Further trials are planned to involve thousands of patients, with discussions of expanding the treatment's availability.

A similar trial in Mumbai involves a drug created by fusing the virus with immune system T-cells, known as CAR-T cell therapy.

The CAR-T cell therapy aims to make cancer treatment more affordable and accessible, especially in countries where the cost can be prohibitive.

The development of these oncovirus treatments represents a significant advancement in the fight against cancer, offering new hope for patients.