Testing 'cancer cell-killing' virus

Chinese scientists will test the M1 virus, which is said to be able to kill cancer cells without harming normal cells, on monkeys next week.

The M1 virus research team, led by Professor Yan Guangmei (wearing glasses, center) at Sun Yat-sen University. Photo: CRI.

According to Shanghaiist, this is the research work of a group of experts from Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong province, led by Professor Yan Guanngmei. M1 is an alphavirus (oncolytic alphavirus), taken from mosquitoes in Hainan province. M1 virus can limit the growth of cancer cells without harming other normal cells.

Next week, the trial will be conducted on monkeys to test for side effects. Yan and his colleagues are optimistic about the results, because one M1 virus can kill 10 cancer cells. That shows it is quite powerful.

"Chinese scientists discovered this mosquito species in 1964. Our success is to prove that the virus from this mosquito species can be used in cancer treatments," said Professor Yan. The evaluation results show that M1 is effective against cancer cells in the liver, bladder, colon and rectum.

According to Yan, the previous testing was conducted on mice and rabbits. The research team plans to complete the first phase of clinical trials within three years, before it can be applied to humans.

In 2013, the Chinese Medical Journal reported that in China, about 6 people were diagnosed with cancer every minute. The annual rate of new cancer cases in the country was 3.12, resulting in more than 2 million deaths each year.

According to VnExpress