Scientists at the Penn State College of Medicine claim to have discovered a non-disease causing virus that will kill all grades of breast cancer within seven days.

The Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) is harmless to humans, but apparently very deadly to breast cancer at any stage.  So far the AAV2 virus has only been tested successfully on cancer cells in a laboratory setting, but clinical testing on people will likely come next.

Researchers are also hopeful that learning more about this virus may aid in the development of other cancer-killing methods.

Samina Alam, research associate in microbiology and immunology for Penn State College of Medicine said in the universities official news source,

"If we can determine which viral genes are being used, we may be able to introduce those genes into a therapeutic. If we can determine which pathways the virus is triggering, we can then screen new drugs that target those pathways. Or we may simply be able to use the virus itself."

Due to the rigorous testing that must take place, this treatment is most likely years away from becoming any form of  a viable treatment for breast cancer.

The Center for Disease Control says that breast cancer is the most common type of cancer affecting American women and is second only to lung cancer as the most deadly.

The American Cancer Society estimates that up to 39,520 women in the U.S. will die from cancer just this year, out of about 230,480 new cases discovered by doctors.

 

 

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