A team of scientists from the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) of the University of Navarra has identified new molecular mechanisms used by therapeutic herpes viruses to destroy liver cancer cells. Their research, published in the journal Molecular & Cellular Proteomics, is part of a European project in which labs from France, Germany, Italy and Greece, as well as various biotechnology businesses are participating.

Even considering the caution entailed in biomedical research, one of the most promising strategies for treating liver cancer is the use of therapies based on the type I (HSV-1) herpes virus. These researchers analyzed the changes produced in proteomes (groups of hundreds of thousands of proteins) of liver cancer cells when infected by HSV-1.

"By using proteomics (the large scale study of proteins), we have identified twenty five proteins that are altered within the first twenty four hours after infection", explained biochemist and Lead Researcher, Enrique Santamaria. Some of these cells participate directly in the ‘suicide' process (called ‘oncoaptosis') of cancerous cells. "In other words, we have identified some of the molecular mechanisms which cause the destruction of cancerous liver cells through the use of HSV-1".

According to the scientists, these findings have created new hopes for developing therapies for liver cancer which are more efficient and have fewer secondary effects. "As of now, our research will be focused on putting proteomic techniques into practice so that we can obtain new methods for molecular diagnosis of diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer", said Enrique Santamaria.