Cold virus joins cancer fight

LONDON - The common cold virus has been transformed into a weapon against one of the western world's biggest cancer killers, …

LONDON - The common cold virus has been transformed into a weapon against one of the western world's biggest cancer killers, the New Scientist magazine discloses today.

Scientists in the US have succeeded in creating a mutant strain of the virus that targets and destroys prostate cancer.

Meanwhile, a genetic switch has been discovered that controls processes like bone formation and limb growth and could play a major role in triggering cancer, it was disclosed yesterday in the science journal Nature. - (PA)

  • Join The Irish Times on WhatsApp and stay up to date

  • Sign up for push alerts to get the best breaking news, analysis and comment delivered directly to your phone

  • Listen to In The News podcast daily for a deep dive on the stories that matter