Cold virus redesigned for cancer therapy

Viruses have their own genetic material and can infect human cells in a specific manner, explained the University of Zurich (UZH) in a statement. This property makes them interesting for the treatment of hereditary diseases or cancer.

The human adenovirus 5, which causes colds, is particularly well suited to this purpose. Its genome can be replaced completely by an artificial one which contains only useful genes.

The genome of the adenovirus is also very large and does not integrate into human chromosomes.

However, until now the adenovirus has lacked the ability to infect cancer cells and inject the genetic blueprints for the therapeutic molecules to fight the disease.

Scientists at the UZH have now rebuilt the virus so that it can successfully recognize and infect tumor cells. 

“For this purpose we have created molecules which act as an adapter between the virus and the tumor cell,” explained Markus Schmid, first author of the study.

The second problem was that adenoviruses are efficiently neutralized by the immune system and very rapidly eliminated by the liver. 

To solve this problem, the UZH researchers hid the virus behind an innovative protein coat which protects the virus from the immune system, allowing it to carry out its mission.  

“With its shield and its adapter, these viral gene shuttles efficiently infected tumor cells in laboratory animals,” revealed the UZH in the statement.

Using these “stealth gene shuttles”, the scientists want to develop novel therapies for different types of cancer. The adenovirus could also help tackle the development of resistances to drugs.

“With this gene shuttle, we have opened up many avenues to treat aggressive cancers in the future, since we can make the body itself produce a whole cocktail of therapeutics directly in the tumor,” commented biochemist Andreas Plückthun.