Solving Kids' Cancer - every kid deserves to grow up

Work | Tumor Initiating Cells

Phase I Clinical Trial of HSV Oncolytic Virus

The use of oncolytic viruses as an immunotherapy is an example of a new novel category of therapies as they have shown promise in adult cancer studies.

In partnership with Cincinnati Children's Hospital and Crusade Laboratories, Solving Kids’ Cancer has launched a Phase I Clinical Trial for children with of neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and hepatoblasoma solid tumors. This trial employs HSV1716, a type of Herpes Simplex Virus, whose natural lysing properties have been successfully harnessed to destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unaffected. The HSV oncolytic virus has been effectively administered to more than 70 adult cancer patients (brain cancer, head/neck carcinoma, melanoma) by direct intratumoral injection in Europe, but has never been tested in the United States or in children. Clinical indications of efficacy in these early phase trials have been reported with no known virus-related toxicities. The current study was developed to bring this promising therapeutic agent to pediatric solid tumors.

This important clinical trial opened in April 2010. For more information on the trial, please visit clinicaltrials.gov.