I read a while back that the herpes virus likes to attack actively multiplying (dividing?) cells. And that the blood/brain barrier inhibits transfer of even virus. And that some researcher tried injecting a brain tumor with herpes, which homed in on and annihilated the actively reproducing tumor cells but left the non-reproducing brain cells alone. And that the virus was contained within the brain with no hope of escape.
Sounds marvelous to me. Why is this treatment not standard practice? Also, if the above-mentioned “preference” for active tissue is true, why would herpes not be lethal if exposed to the rest of the body?
Probably in the testing stage.
Very risky. They’ll move slowly on this.
Whoops!
Here’s why!
Might be an itsy-bitsy bit of a Bad Idea.
Like Custer going to Little Bighorn to pick up chicks! :eek:
Here is another reason. Herpes can cause encephalitis.
Treatment is only good if the patient can survive it.
My girlfriend did some research at a major cancer center this summer where they were killing cancer cells with herpes. some pretty interesting stuff, but sounds like they have a way to go.
from the previous link from picunurse:
Herpes is a neurotropic virus. It readily infects nerve cells and remains part of the cell for the rest of the cell’s life. And, note that the virus can move through nerves. In fact, it uses this to cross the blood brain barrier. In short, it could readily infect the brain not just the tumor, it can move itself around pretty efficiently along nerve tracts and there’s no way to get rid of it once you have it. All in all, not the best therapy. If it does ever get approved, it will likely only be for extremely advanced terminal cancers where the possible complications are outweighed by the finality of the prognosis.