Combining Herpes Virus and Cancer Vaccine to Fight Brain Cancer

Researchers are exploring a novel approach combining a genetically modified herpes virus with a cancer vaccine. This combination therapy holds promise for treating aggressive childhood cancer.

Urgent Need for Better Treatments

Childhood brain cancer, particularly high-grade gliomas, has a dismal prognosis with a three-year survival rate of only 11-22%. Existing treatments like radiotherapy and chemotherapy, designed for adults, often come with severe side effects that hinder a child’s development. Dr. Gregory Friedman, the project’s lead investigator, emphasizes the need for “targeted, less-toxic therapies” for these vulnerable patients.

Combining a Vaccine and Engineered Virus

Researchers are exploring a novel approach that combines a genetically modified herpes simplex virus type 1 with a vaccine called SNAPvax. The engineered herpes virus targets and replicates rapidly within cancer cells, ultimately destroying them. This treatment has already shown promise in a phase 1 trial.

The SNAPvax vaccine plays a crucial role by priming the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. This two-pronged approach aims to not only eliminate existing cancer cells but also potentially sustain the virus’s effect and prevent recurrence.

Hope for the Future

This £1.1 million collaborative project, funded by CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and LifeArc, brings together expertise from MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Harvard University, and other prestigious institutions. The success of this research offers a beacon of hope for families like Namrata and Bhavesh Pandya, who tragically lost their son to a brain tumor. Their story underscores the urgent need for more effective treatments with minimal side effects to improve children’s quality of life and ultimately save lives.