A German biotech company has announced positive results from a genetically engineered herpes virus that is designed to kill cancer cells. It not only kills the cancer cells but leaves healthy tissue unharmed. Results from clinical trials has showed promise.

Being injected with a virus might seem strange but researchers believe that viruses could one day become a valuable addition to conventional cancer treatments.

The results have shown in animal testing and limited human testing the ability to kill colorectal and liver cancer cells.

Texas cancer researchers are reporting significant success in survival rates of men with recurrent prostate cancer when treated with a one-two combination of radiation and suicide gene therapy -- all of which might one day lead to an effective long term prostate cancer vaccine. The Methodist Hospital in Houston researchers, who conducted the five-year study, reported improvement in patients with all stages of prostate cancer undergoing the combination treatment when compared to the results of patients receiving standard radiation at other institutions.

According to researchers, low-risk patients had 100 percent survival rate at five years, and the intermediate and high risk group had 90 percent survival rate at five years. “This method not only treats the tumor area with radiation,” said Dr. Brian Butler, chief of radiation oncology at The Methodist Hospital in Houston. “But it also creates a system of assassins to go out and look for these cancer cells throughout the body. We are using the body’s own immunological system to help identify the cancer and kill it.” Amazing. To read about the researchers use of a common cold virus and the potential future of a prostate cancer vaccine, go here.