Poliovirus Study Finds That Less is More

A new version of poliovirus therapy for glioblastoma treatment may work best in low dosages in order to reduce side effects while achieving higher success rates, according to a new study. Researchers from Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center will be presenting their evaluation findings from this study during the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago at the end of the month. Initially beginning as a toxicity test to evaluate the highest usable doses, fringe testing in reduced doses revealed that overall tumor impact was similar, if not superior, in doses below the initial testing point. Upon further refinement, much smaller doses appeared to retain this success rate without the usual side effects and damage associated with such drugs. “For chemotherapy, we are trained to give the largest dose possible with acceptable toxicity, because that is how the drugs work to attack tumors,” the lead researcher said. “But that does not appear to be necessary with our therapy, and in fact a lower dose attacks the tumor as well and results in fewer side effects.” To learn more about this study, click here.