UC San Diego study finds plant virus may slow the progression of cancer

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- New research from the University of California, San Diego found that a plant virus may be effective in preventing the growth of cancerous tumors.

The study, published in Advanced Science, looked at a treatment made out of nanoparticles from the cowpea mosaic virus, which infects black-eyed pea plants. The research was conducted by UC San Diego researchers led by Professor Nicole Steinmetz, director of the Center for Nano-Immuno Engineering and co-director of the Center for Engineering in Cancer.

The team looked at how the plant virus stimulated an immune response in mice with metastatic tumors. Metastasis, which happens when cancerous cells spread to other areas of the body, leads to the highest percentage of cancer-related deaths, according to the study.

To make the nanoparticles, researchers grew black-eyed pea plants and infected them with the virus. The nanoparticles were then injected into mice with melanoma, ovarian, colon and breast cancer, and glioma.

While the plant virus is non-infectious in mammals, the results of the study found that the nanoparticles stimulated an immune response and tumor cell death in the subjects infected with cancer. Specifically, the mice injected with the plant virus nanoparticles showed improved survival rates and slowed tumor growth compared to the mice who did not receive the treatment.

The team at UCSD now hopes to move the research forward and conduct safety studies through clinic trials.