Hyderabad, February 25: Live viruses carrying genes for treating various cancers is expected to become a reality in next five to seven years, according to a cancer expert, Kevin T. Murphy from USA.
Called ‘oncolytic viruses’, clinical trials using them were underway and there might be a breakthrough in the coming years, he said. It would be an amazing therapy as live virus injected into the body would target and kill cancer cells. It would become a systemic treatment for cancers in future, he told The Hindu here on Thursday.
Radio therapy
Dr. Kevin, who is a radiation oncologist, said another new method of treating cancers through radio therapy had become very effective as one could see a tumour down to the millimetre. He said as a result of this, the treatment procedure became less and less invasive with no pain and side-effects. A tumour in the brain could be removed in about 10-15 minutes. The X-Ray machine to provide radio-therapy would cost millions in US dollars, he added. He said that in many countries CT scans were being used to detect brain tumours, which was not that effective. However, with Magnetic Resonance Imaging, it was very definitive in targeting them.
Dr. Kevin, who is associate clinical professor at the University of California, San Diego is in city to attend a cancer conference beginning here on Friday and hosted jointly by Apollo Hospitals and CURE Foundation.
Dr. Vijayanand P. Reddy, Director, Apollo, Cancer Hospital, told reporters that the event—CANCER CI-2011- would focus on the latest advances in the treatment of malignancies in brain, head and neck, breast and gynaecology. He said the faculty for the conference comprised 16 international speakers and 80 from India. Around 1,500 delegates would attend the three-day event.
-Agencies