A virus has stopped pancreatic cancer in its tracks in three people in a clinical trial in the U.S. Further evaluation is needed in larger trials, but the early results are encouraging, especially since only small doses of the virus were administered for initial safety testing. Pancreatic cancer is notorious for being the deadliest type of the condition. One reason is that symptoms tend to appear late, when the cancer has already spread and can't be surgically removed. Once diagnosed, people typically live around 3-6 months. Another reason it's so deadly is that pancreatic tumors have tough, fibrous exteriors that block chemotherapy drugs from getting in. Immunotherapies that boost immune activity against cancer are also ineffective, because pancreatic tumors can hide from the immune system. The first patient in the trial, who had a pancreatic tumor 2½ inches across, was administered the treatment a year ago, and the other two have received the treatment since then. At the time, their tumors hadn’t spread beyond the pancreas. Since being treated, their tumors haven’t grown any further. “They are all still alive and have a clinically stable disease,” said Masato Yamamoto of the University of Minnesota, who led the development of the viral treatment. Another 15 patients will now be given higher doses to find the optimum level. The cancer-killing virus is raising hopes that it may help to beat the deadly condition.
