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Posted: 12th September 2012

Rabbit virus could treat canine cancer

New research has found that Myxoma infects cancer cells in dogs

A new study has found that the Myxoma virus kills different types of cancer cells in dogs, without harming any of their healthy cells.

Though the Myxoma virus causes Myxomatosis in some rabbits, it does not affect canines, humans or any other vertebrate in the same way. In fact the results, which were published in the American Journal of Veterinary Research, show that it can be beneficial to them instead.

This study adds to evidence that viruses, or modified viruses, will one day become a benign therapy to treat or compliment other treatments of cancer.

Amy MacNeill, University of Illinois veterinarian and pathobiology professor who led the study, said many cancers have impaired anti-viral defenses which allow viruses to target tumours while sparing healthy cells. She added that chemotherapy and radiation kill healthy cells along with cancer cells and radiation can cause abrupt cell death that spurs inflammation and pain.

"Ideally, what would happen is the virus would get into a few cancer cells, cause cell death and then spread to the other tumour cells nearby," added Amy. "Other studies have shown that once you eliminate cancer with an oncolytic (cancer-killing) virus, if you re-challenge that animal with the same cancer cells, they don't develop tumours."

Scientists face more years of research, but it is hoped that eventually this therapy can be tested in dogs while treating them at the same time. The results of which can then be used to develop cancer therapies for humans, too.



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