Fighting cancer with viruses
Ottawa is leading the development of “oncolytic” viruses that infect and destroy many types of cancer without the usual side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiation. The oncolytic virus team includes Drs. John Bell and Harry Atkins from OHRI, as well as Dr. David Stojdl from CHEO. They recently formed a company with colleagues in the US (Jennerex Biotherapeutics) to help bring these viruses into the clinic more quickly. An early-stage international clinical trial in 14 terminal liver cancer patients generated attention around the world this year: 70 per cent of the patients responded to the virus and half survived for at least double their life expectancy, with some still alive today. The study was published in Lancet Oncology and was selected first out of more than 1,000 submissions for presentation at the Society of Gene Therapy Annual Meeting. Clinical trials are expected to begin in Canada soon.