Found a virus that helps fight skin cancer

Oxford University scientists have made an amazing discovery: the common cytomegalovirus (CMV) can significantly improve melanoma treatment outcomes - one of the most aggressive types of skin cancer. Moreover, the virus helps reduce the risk of serious side effects from therapy. The research results were published in the scientific journal Nature Medicine.

CMV is a virus that is asymptomatically present in 50-60% of the adult population in the UK. In people with normal immunity, it remains in an inactive state; however, as it turns out, it has a significant impact on the functioning of the immune system.

The large-scale study involved 341 patients diagnosed with melanoma who were undergoing immunotherapy - a modern treatment method that activates the body's own defenses in fighting tumors. Melanoma, especially in late stages, is considered one of the most difficult-to-treat types of cancer. Despite the fact that immunotherapy increases chances of survival, it is not effective for all patients, and some suffer from severe side effects.

The study showed striking results: patients who tested positive for CMV showed a significantly better response to PD-1 monotherapy - a drug that blocks a protein that prevents the immune system from recognizing cancer cells. This group of patients also less frequently developed serious complications, including inflammation of the colon (colitis), and had a lower probability of disease recurrence.

The scientific team plans to continue research to confirm the obtained results on larger patient samples. The scientists intend to comprehensively evaluate the possibility of using CMV infection as a tool for increasing the effectiveness of immunotherapy and developing safer approaches to cancer treatment.