The herpes virus could contribute to the treatment of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer, according to a preliminary study in the Lancet, published today. The study said researchers at the University of Glasgow, led by Prof Rona MacKie, were so encouraged by their findings they were recommending higher doses be given of a mutant herpes simplex virus known as HSV1716, which "replicates preferentially" in human tissue.
Previous laboratory re search showed that HSV1716 improved the survival rates of animals with tumours. The virus replicated preferentially in the melanoma cell tissue of humans, causing cell death.
Prof McKie said the study showed that HSV "causes tumour-cell death if in direct contact with melanoma cells and is not toxic".