Zika virus destroys brain cancer cells.

Experiments on mice with brain cancer showed that the Zika virus, which causes microcephaly, shrank tumors and increased lifespan after two weeks.

Although dangerous to pregnant women and causing microcephaly in fetuses, the Zika virus is believed to have the ability to destroy glioblastoma cells.This is a dangerous and difficult-to-treat form of brain cancer.

Glioblastoma brain cancer cells. Image: Sherbrooke connectivity imaging lab/ Science photo library.

On the sheetJournal of Experimental MedicineA team of scientists from the University of California (USA) announced that they have tested two strains of the Zika virus on stem cells.Glioblastoma. This type of cell produces new cancer cells and is often resistant to conventional treatments. Scientists discovered that the Zika virus kills stem cells while leaving others intact. In mice with brain cancer, the Zika virus caused tumors to shrink after two weeks and also increased lifespan compared to mice given a placebo.

Based on these results, the authors expect that the Zika virus could be used as an adjunctive treatment for patients.Glioblastoma. In fact, chemotherapy and radiation therapy eliminate most cancer cells but fail to reach stem cells.glioblastoma, which carries a very high risk of recurrence. If combined with the Zika virus to eliminate it...With glioblastoma stem cell therapy, patients are much more likely to recover instead of facing the risk of death within a year as they do now.

The team of scientists will soon continue researching how to genetically modify the Zika virus to make it safer before testing it on humans. Although the idea of ​​injecting the virus that causes brain disease into the brain sounds crazy, they still believe this method is safe for adults because the mature brain is no longer attacked by Zika cells.

According to VNE