Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Mesothelioma, an incurable cancer linked with exposure to asbestos,  is historically resistant to the standard types of cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy.  Research into viable alternative treatments which could not only extend survival time but cure mesothelioma is ongoing.  One alternative being investigated is virotherapy.

Virotherapy is a technique that fights cancer by specifically targeting and killing cancer cells through introducing common viruses into the body.  The viral material then rapidly reproduces, killing cancer cells while leaving healthy ones unaffected.   The action of viruses only replicating and affecting cancer cells is also known as lysing.  The virus is injected much like a drug and has shown promise in causing tumor remission by inhibiting cell proliferation, interrupting pathways, and destroying malignant cells.

One recent study investigated the use of measles viruses (MVs) in treating mesothelioma, combined with insertion of either the interferon beta (IFNbeta) or thyroidal sodium iodide symporter (NIS) gene.  The researchers concluded that MVs that carry this combined code could be strong therapeutic agents in treating mesothelioma. 

Other viruses are also being investigated for use in this type of therapy against mesothelioma.  Various approaches are also being explored, such as using viruses to deliver chemotherapy directly to malignant cells.   More research is needed, especially in finding ways to prevent the body from quickly finding ways to destroy the viruses that are introduced into the body. 

Virotherapy has the potential to treat mesothelioma with few injections and little side effects.  Therefore, further study is warranted and strongly supported, especially in finding effective systemic delivery methods.