Canadian scientists found that one virus destroy cancer tumor cells. Maybe it is the beginning of anti-cancer medicine?

Canadian scientists on Wednesday said they had made a potentially significant breakthrough in the fight against cancer by discovering that tumor cells could be killed by a rare virus. Dr. John Bell of the University of Ottawa said his team had found many common cancers were destroyed by Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV). In tests the new treatment killed cells from melanomas and leukemia as well as lung, breast and prostate cancers. The tests has been done on mice and other test animals, but researchers are worried if the same effect can be achieved to human cancer tumors, because doses for people are much more bigger than to lab mice. "Dr Bell's findings are potentially very important. We look forward to seeing the results of the preclinical studies to evaluate the possible efficacy of this virus as a cancer therapy," said Robert Phillips, head of Canada's National Cancer Institute. Will it be the beginning of succesful cancer treatment? "I don't think we're trying to get anyone's hopes up. I think the people out there dealing with cancer every day need to have something to be optimistic about." Dr. Bell said.