New Gene Therapy Shows Promise in Fighting Solid Tumors - Scientists use a virus protein to attack cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed

A new type of cancer treatment may be on the horizon—and it comes from an unlikely source: a virus. Researchers have found that a tiny part of a virus, called 3C protease, could be a powerful weapon against many types of solid tumors, which are cancers that form lumps in organs like the lungs, liver, or breast.

What Is Gene Therapy?

Gene therapy is a medical approach that involves changing or adding genes in a person’s cells to treat or prevent disease. In cancer, the goal is to kill tumor cells without harming healthy ones. This is often difficult because cancer cells can look a lot like normal cells.

What Did the Researchers Do?

The scientists in the study “Gene Therapy with Enterovirus 3 Protease: A Promising Strategy for Various Solid Tumors”  used a special protein from a group of viruses called enteroviruses—these are the same kinds of viruses that can cause colds or stomach bugs. This protein, called 3C protease, normally helps viruses break down proteins inside infected cells.

But here’s the exciting part: when the researchers delivered the 3C protease into cancer cells using gene therapy, it acted like a "self-destruct button." The cancer cells were killed from the inside, while the healthy cells around them were mostly left untouched.

Why Is This Important?

Current cancer treatments, like chemotherapy or radiation, can damage healthy parts of the body and cause severe side effects. This new therapy is different. Because it only works inside cancer cells, it could potentially treat tumors with fewer side effects.

Even better, the researchers tested this treatment on many types of solid tumors and saw strong results. This means it might help treat a wide range of cancers in the future.

What Happens Next?

While the research is still in early stages and has mostly been tested in lab models, the results are very promising. The next steps will involve more testing to make sure the therapy is safe and effective in humans.

The Bottom Line

A small protein from a common virus could become a powerful cancer treatment. This innovative gene therapy targets tumors directly and may offer new hope for people with solid cancers. It’s one more step toward safer, more effective cancer treatments in the future.

Reference

Yang, Xiaotong, et al. “Gene Therapy with Enterovirus 3 C Protease: A Promising Strategy for Various Solid Tumors.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 8 May 2025, www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-59440-8.