In a groundbreaking study, scientists from Duke University have discovered that a weakened version of the Zika virus could potentially be repurposed into a treatment for brain cancer. The virus, primarily known for causing severe cranial deformities in babies, has shown remarkable efficiency in targeting and killing off tumor cells in laboratory experiments, while sparing healthy cells.

Zika, which has been documented since the 1940s, gained significant attention in 2015 when it rapidly spread across the Americas, resulting in large-scale outbreaks, particularly in Brazil. The virus can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy and is known to cause serious congenital conditions in newborns, including microcephaly. In adults, Zika can also trigger Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological condition that can lead to long-term muscle weakness and paralysis.

Although the Zika epidemic in the Americas has diminished since 2017, the virus still poses a potential public health threat as it continues to circulate in many parts of the world. Consequently, scientists have been actively working towards developing a vaccine against Zika.

The Duke-NUS Medical School, a collaboration between Duke University and the National University of Singapore, has been at the forefront of this research. Their latest study, published in the Journal of Translational Medicine, showcases the potential of their vaccine strain of Zika as a targeted cancer treatment. In laboratory trials, the live-attenuated virus successfully infected and destroyed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, the most common type of brain tumor, killing between 65% to 90% of the cancer cells while sparing healthy cells.

Moreover, the Duke-NUS team demonstrated that the vaccine strain had a minimal impact on blood vessel cells from the brain, infecting only a small proportion without causing harm. This finding reinforces the potential safety and efficacy of the Zika-derived treatment.

While other research teams have explored the cancer-killing capabilities of weakened Zika viruses, the Duke-NUS study is the first to provide an in-depth molecular dissection of the underlying mechanisms.

Senior study author Ann-Marie Chacko, an associate professor from Duke-NUS' Cancer & Stem Cell Biology Research Program, expressed hope that their research would present Zika in a new light, highlighting its potential to combat cancer cells.

Although Zika as a cancer treatment is still at an early stage of development, other viruses that target brain cancer are currently undergoing human trials, showing promising preliminary results. The Duke-NUS team aims to further develop their neutered Zika virus as both a vaccine and a cancer treatment, potentially targeting various types of cancer, including lung, breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer.

Chacko emphasized the potential benefits of using a live but attenuated virus, stating that it could not only serve as a vaccine but also as a potent tumor-eradicating agent. Research into harnessing the Zika virus for cancer treatment holds promising prospects for the future.

As the fight against cancer continues, this innovative approach could provide new therapeutic options in the battle against this devastating disease.