A new type of cancer treatment based on a common virus that infects and then kills cancer cells has shown promising results in early human trials, British researchers report. Agerpres which is quoted by the BBC.

Sick with cancerPhoto: Zdenek Maly / Panthermedia / Profimedia Images

In one of the patients, the cancer completely disappeared, and in the others, the number of tumors decreased.

The new treatment is based on a weakened form of the oral herpes virus – herpes simplex – that has been modified to destroy cancerous tumors.

Larger and longer studies are needed in the near future, but medical experts believe that this injectable treatment could offer a real lifeline for many people diagnosed with advanced cancer.

Injections given directly into the tumor attack the cancer in two ways: by invading the cancer cells and causing them to explode and by activating the immune system.

Approximately 40 patients tried this treatment in a clinical trial. Some received only an injection of a viral therapy called RP2. Others also received another drug developed against cancer, Nivolumab.