Stanford Researcher's Uncommon Approach To Common Cold Fights Cancer STANFORD, Calif. - Researchers at Stanford University Medical Center have been spreading colds to cancer patients, all in the hope of curing a deadly disease. In the unusual technique, doctors inject a modified cold virus into the liver as a way to kill cancerous cells. The major benefit of treatment with a modified cold virus is its ability to target cancer while leaving normal cells unharmed. "We want to kill the tumor but not at the expense of the patient," said Daniel Sze, MD, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at Stanford. Sze will present his findings April 8 at the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology annual scientific meeting in Baltimore. Thirty-five cancer patients received various doses of the live virus, which was genetically weakened so that it was not as infectious as a normal cold virus. The patients suffered flu-like symptoms for about a week - minor side-effects when compared to the nausea, weakness and hair loss that results from chemotherapy. Of the 28 patients who received the highest virus dose, each was expected to live only about six months but instead survived closer to a year. Many of their tumors also appeared to shrink and stopped producing abnormal, tumor-associated proteins. Sze said follow-up studies with more participants will provide a better idea of exactly how effective the treatment may be. "In this trial, we got a hint that it might actually benefit people with cancer," he said, adding that in this phase I study, the main concern was showing that the treatment is safe. [04/11/2002; ScienceDaily] British J Cancer, 2/05 Press Release, 3/14/05 Presented at 3rd Intl Meeting on Replicating Oncolytic Virus Therapeutics LINK to company making 'Coley Fluid' LINK to article by Gar Hildebrand, Gerson Research Organization Cancer Letters, January 2008 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.