Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/news/nr/surfing-trojan-horses-bust-tumours-1.232903
20 December 2012
Surfing 'Trojan-horses' stop tumour regrowth after chemotherapy or radiotherapy
White blood cells which act as 'Trojan-horses' delivering a tumour-busting virus could stop the spread of cancer after therapy, researchers from the University of Sheffield have found.
Trojan Horse?Trojan horse? white blood cells surf the big wave of white blood cells which naturally enter the tumour after chemotherapy in order to deliver a tumour-busting virus. Picture courtesy of Cancer Research.
World-leading experts have discovered white blood cells called macrophages surge into tumours from the blood after frontline therapies like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and are now exploiting this to deliver a second potent blow to stop tumours growing back.
They are injecting macrophages carrying a tumour-destroying virus into the bloodstream at the exact moment when this surge occurs so that their ?therapeutic? macrophages can surf this wave and get swept up into the tumour in large numbers.
Each macrophage then releases large amounts of virus inside the tumour.
Using the blood cells as 'Trojan-horses', ensures that the virus is delivered to where it is needed most after frontline therapies- deep into the heart of what?s left of the tumour.
The virus then kills the cancer residue from within preventing regrowth or further spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.
The pioneering project was led by Professor Claire Lewis from the University's Department of Oncology and Dr Munitta Muthana from the Department of Infection and Immunity...
20 December 2012
Surfing 'Trojan-horses' stop tumour regrowth after chemotherapy or radiotherapy
White blood cells which act as 'Trojan-horses' delivering a tumour-busting virus could stop the spread of cancer after therapy, researchers from the University of Sheffield have found.
Trojan Horse?Trojan horse? white blood cells surf the big wave of white blood cells which naturally enter the tumour after chemotherapy in order to deliver a tumour-busting virus. Picture courtesy of Cancer Research.
World-leading experts have discovered white blood cells called macrophages surge into tumours from the blood after frontline therapies like chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and are now exploiting this to deliver a second potent blow to stop tumours growing back.
They are injecting macrophages carrying a tumour-destroying virus into the bloodstream at the exact moment when this surge occurs so that their ?therapeutic? macrophages can surf this wave and get swept up into the tumour in large numbers.
Each macrophage then releases large amounts of virus inside the tumour.
Using the blood cells as 'Trojan-horses', ensures that the virus is delivered to where it is needed most after frontline therapies- deep into the heart of what?s left of the tumour.
The virus then kills the cancer residue from within preventing regrowth or further spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.
The pioneering project was led by Professor Claire Lewis from the University's Department of Oncology and Dr Munitta Muthana from the Department of Infection and Immunity...