Japan: Japan has begun the rollout of the first oncolytic virus drug specifically intended to treat esophageal cancer, following its approval for use. The drug relies on modified viruses that target cancer cells, where they multiply and destroy them while preserving the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.
According to Qatar News Agency, in addition to destroying cancer cells, oncolytic viruses stimulate the body's immune response, which helps attack cancer cells. Preliminary information concerning the drug suggests that it may take several weeks for the therapeutic effect to appear, depending on the extent to which the virus spreads within the tumor.
It is noteworthy that esophageal cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the lining of the esophagus, the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach, and it may affect swallowing as the disease progresses.