Treating bladder cancer with an engineered virus

New funding will help bring the therapy one step closer to clinical use

 

By: Shelby Soke

 

David Evans aims to use an oncolytic virus he developed as a treatment for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.
Viruses are commonly associated with illness. Whether it is a nasty stomach bug or a bout of influenza, most people do not equate introducing a virus to the body with positive outcomes. David Evans, professor and vice-dean of research at the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, is not like most people—he sees viruses as a potential cancer-fighting treatment.

 

Evans aims to use a virus he engineered to improve the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The virus is an oncolytic virus, which means it has been modified to selectively kill rapidly-dividing cancer cells while remaining safe for surrounding healthy cells.

 

Read the full article by the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry here.