Dr. House smokes in the corner: a scientist injected herself with dangerous viruses in an attempt to cure her cancer.

Viruses often evoke a strong association with diseases for the average person, but their role in our lives is far more complex. Consequently, researchers have long contemplated how we might harness them for the benefit of humanity.

A nearly incredible story unfolded with virologist Beata Halassy from the University of Zagreb (Croatia). In 2020, at the age of 49, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the site of a previous mastectomy. Realizing that she would likely not survive a second round of chemotherapy, she decided to take control of her situation and turned to oncolytic virotherapy (OVT). The scientist's article was published in the journal Vaccines.

Since the concept of using viruses against cancer is still scientifically unproven and in its early stages, Halassy was taking a significant risk. Nevertheless, despite the odds, she succeeded in overcoming stage three cancer.

OVT involves using viruses to attack cancer cells and provoke a response from the human immune system. Although certain trials have been conducted in this area, there is currently no agent approved for breast cancer treatment anywhere in the world.

For her study, Halassy selected viruses from two particularly challenging diseases — measles and vesicular stomatitis. This choice was justified by her prior experience with these viruses and the existing knowledge of how to combat them.

Over the course of two months, a cocktail of viruses was injected directly into the tumor. The experiment was conducted under the supervision of her treating oncologists in case anything went awry. However, this precaution proved unnecessary, as the method worked just as Halassy had hoped.

Ultimately, the tumor came under attack from immune cells, shrank, became softer, and detached from the muscle, allowing for its subsequent surgical removal. Although the only novelty in this approach was the use of two viruses simultaneously, the scientist still hesitated about publishing the results.

The reason for her hesitation lies in the ethical dilemmas such experiments raise. Researchers worry that Halassy's approach might encourage others to abandon proven treatment methods in favor of potentially harmful alternatives.

In any case, Halassy published the results of her experiment four years after she was cured of cancer. She has now secured funding for further work in the field of OVT to combat cancer, but only in pets for the time being. The scientist also does not believe anyone would want to replicate her methods for self-treatment, as they require extensive skills and knowledge in virology.

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