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Viruses are known for causing a huge variety of diseases. They also play an important role in the pathogenesis of certain tumors. When Parvoviruses where found in solid tumors of rodents, they were suspected to have caused them. But it turned out that it was a rather “normal” infection: The viruses just liked the tumorous environment and proliferated there.

This opened new horizons for experimental tretments of cancer. At the moment, different parvo- and similar viruses are being investigated. These so-called oncolytic viruses damage preferently tumor cells while being harmless to normal cells. Most of the trials being conducted deal with cell lines or mice.

A first (phase I/IIa) study involving patients suffering from recurrent glioblastoma has started in october 2011. At Heidelberg University Hospital, parvoviruses of the subspecies H-1 are being injected. After ten days, standard surgery is perfomed and again, viruses are being injected in the newly formed cavity.

18 patients are being selected for this study. Its goal is to proof security and tolerabilty of the new therapy.

Two methods of tumor infection are being investigated. The first group of patients receives a direct injection into the recurrent tumor via a catheter system. The second group gets a standard intravenous injection. In this way, possible differences in security and effectiveness can be identified.