Zika virus can potentially be used to cure a deadly childhood cancer
| Updated: Jul 26, 2018, 16:02 IST
Zika virus is notorious for causing brain defects when passed down from a pregnant woman to her fetus. But, a new research states that the virus can actually help cure cancer in children. Let us elaborate. According to early findings from a basic research published in Plos One, the very deadliness of the Zika virus for babies is the basis of its potential as a treatment for cancer. Now, it's important to understand that this research is in its initial stages and that eventually, it will help pave the way for further investigation.
Researchers at Nemours Children’s Hospital and the University of Central Florida tested Zika’s effect in several human neuroblastoma cell lines. All but one cell line responded well to Zika infection and died in massive amounts. “The same thing that makes Zika so detrimental to unborn babies gives it promise as a cancer treatment. Its attack on developing nerve cells, the same type of cells neuroblastoma develops from, allows the virus to target these cancer cells and leave normal cells alone,” said Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.
Researchers at Nemours Children’s Hospital and the University of Central Florida tested Zika’s effect in several human neuroblastoma cell lines. All but one cell line responded well to Zika infection and died in massive amounts. “The same thing that makes Zika so detrimental to unborn babies gives it promise as a cancer treatment. Its attack on developing nerve cells, the same type of cells neuroblastoma develops from, allows the virus to target these cancer cells and leave normal cells alone,” said Kenneth Alexander, MD, PhD, Chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando.