I found in most review articles and research paper on Oncolytic viruses focus on treating advanced stage cancer. Why are the viruses not being used in early stage viruses?
This is because of the way clinical trials are done. Existing treatments of proven benefit are used for a patient for as long as possible and it is only when these treatments fail that novel and experimental therapies are used as a last resort. Eventually after a safety record for a novel therapy is established it may be tested in combination with an existing therapy, or against the current best treatment, again likely in advanced disease until some clear benefit is seen. It can take many years of phase 1/2 trials like these before a phase 3 trial is done in earlier stage patients to finally prove what the benefit of the novel therapy is. When this is outstandingly positive it may replace the current standard therapy. Oncolytic viruses are still mostly in the experimental phase and only one virus has been licenced for regular use so far. Even once the drug is licenced, its efficacy will be monitored and response rates and survival of patients compared to other therapies. The herpes virus talimogene laherparepvec, is licenced for use in inoperable melanoma lesions, because surgery is usually the best treatment for an operable tumour. It may be some time before anything proves itself better than a scalpel for early stage tumours!
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Methodology
- Research Methodology
- Research Papers