How Newcastle disease virus is being reengineered to fight one of the most common cancers in men
In the relentless battle against prostate cancer, one of the most promising new soldiers comes from an entirely unexpected source—a virus that primarily affects chickens. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), long known to poultry farmers as a threat to their flocks, is now being genetically reengineered to fight one of the most common cancers in men. This revolutionary approach represents a growing frontier in medicine: oncolytic virotherapy, which uses viruses to selectively seek out and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy tissue unharmed.
men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime 6
NDV replicates better in cancer cells than healthy cells
of cancer cells underwent apoptosis after NDV infection 2
With prostate cancer affecting approximately 1 in 6 men during their lifetime and current treatments often causing significant side effects, the medical community has been actively seeking more targeted therapies 6 . The entrance of NDV into this arena offers hope for a treatment that could be both effective and gentler on the body.
Newcastle disease virus is a naturally occurring avian virus that affects domestic and wild birds worldwide. While it can cause serious illness in poultry, it poses minimal threat to humans, occasionally causing mild conjunctivitis or flu-like symptoms in people who have close contact with infected birds 6 . This safety profile makes it an excellent candidate for medical applications.
More importantly, scientists discovered decades ago that NDV has a remarkable property: it replicates up to 10,000 times better in human cancer cells than in normal healthy cells . This selective replication allows the virus to specifically target and destroy tumor cells while largely sparing healthy tissue.
NDV shows significantly higher replication in cancer cells compared to healthy cells.
Oncolytic viruses like NDV fight cancer through two primary mechanisms:
The virus infects cancer cells and uses their machinery to replicate itself. Eventually, the cancer cells burst open (lyse), releasing new virus particles to infect neighboring cancer cells. This process continues, creating a growing wave of destruction within the tumor 8 .
When cancer cells are destroyed by the virus, they release tumor-associated antigens and other signaling molecules that alert the body's immune system. This transforms the tumor microenvironment from "cold" (immune-suppressed) to "hot" (immune-active), enabling the body's natural defenses to join the fight against cancer 8 .
As Dr. Elankumaran Subbiah, a virologist at Virginia Tech, explains: "We modified the virus so that it replicates only in the presence of an active prostate-specific antigen and, therefore, is highly specific to prostate cancer. The recombinant virus efficiently and specifically killed prostate cancer cells, while sparing normal human cells in the laboratory" 6 .
A groundbreaking 2024 study published in the Iranian Biomedical Journal provides some of the most compelling evidence yet for NDV's effectiveness against prostate cancer 2 . This comprehensive investigation not only tested NDV alone but explored its combination with another drug, lenalidomide, offering exciting insights into potential combination therapies.
Three different NDV strains (La Sota, B1, and I2) were tested to identify the most effective one.
The viruses were applied to various prostate cancer cell lines, including LNCaP (androgen-sensitive) and DU145 (androgen-resistant), representing different types of prostate cancer.
Primary cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were tested to ensure the virus didn't harm healthy cells.
Using advanced staining techniques, researchers quantified how effectively the virus triggered programmed cell death in cancer cells.
The most effective NDV strain was combined with lenalidomide, an immunomodulatory drug, to assess potential synergistic effects.
The study yielded several important findings that highlight NDV's potential:
| Cell Type | Viability Reduction | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| LNCaP (androgen-sensitive) | Reduced to <40% | Significant cell death observed |
| DU145 (androgen-resistant) | Reduced to <40% | Effective even against treatment-resistant cancer |
| Primary PBMCs (healthy cells) | No cytotoxic effects | Demonstrated safety for non-cancerous cells |
Table 1: Cytotoxic Effects of NDV La Sota Strain on Prostate Cancer Cells 2
Perhaps most impressively, the NDV infection induced apoptosis in approximately 60% of prostate cancer cells, indicating that it effectively triggers the cancer cells' self-destruct mechanism 2 .
Table 2: Combination Therapy with NDV and Lenalidomide 2
When combined with lenalidomide, the viral therapy showed enhanced effectiveness against prostate cancer cells, suggesting that combination approaches could be more powerful than monotherapy 2 . This is particularly important because while oncolytic viruses show promise alone, their efficacy can be limited without complementary treatments.
The fascinating research into oncolytic viruses like NDV relies on a sophisticated collection of laboratory tools and techniques. Here's a look at the essential "research reagent solutions" that enable these cutting-edge investigations:
| Tool/Technique | Function in Research | Application in NDV Studies |
|---|---|---|
| Cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC3) | Model different types of prostate cancer | Test viral efficacy across cancer subtypes 8 |
| Primary PBMCs | Represent healthy human cells | Assess safety and selectivity of treatment 2 |
| Haemagglutination (HA) assay | Measure viral concentration | Quantify virus stocks for consistent experiments 2 |
| TCID₅₀ assay | Determine infectious dose | Standardize viral potency measurements 2 |
| MTT cytotoxicity test | Evaluate cell viability after treatment | Quantify cancer cell death following viral infection 2 |
| Annexin V/7AAD staining | Detect apoptotic cells | Measure programmed cell death activation 2 |
| Viral reverse genetics | Genetically engineer enhanced viruses | Create prostate-specific NDV variants 6 |
Table 3: Essential Research Tools in Oncolytic Virotherapy
This toolkit allows researchers to thoroughly investigate how the virus works, which strains are most effective, and how to maximize safety and efficacy.
While the results from laboratory studies are promising, it's important to note that most NDV-based therapies for prostate cancer are still in preclinical stages. As Dr. Subbiah noted in 2013, "This potential treatment is available for immediate pre-clinical and clinical trials, but these are typically not done at the university level" 6 . The search for commercial partners to advance these treatments to human trials continues.
The work with NDV is part of a broader movement to harness viruses for medical applications. In a striking parallel development, 2025 has seen reports of the first AI-designed viruses created to target antibiotic-resistant bacteria 3 7 . While these AI-generated viruses target different pathogens, they share the same fundamental principle: using biological agents as precise weapons against disease.
This convergence of virology, oncology, and artificial intelligence suggests we're at the dawn of a new era in medical treatment, one where we increasingly look to nature—and now computer-generated solutions—for answers to our most challenging health problems.
The safety profile of NDV appears favorable based on current knowledge. The virus doesn't cause serious disease in humans, and studies show it can be engineered to be even more specific to prostate cancer cells 6 . However, comprehensive human trials will be essential to confirm both safety and effectiveness in patients.
The research into genetically engineered Newcastle disease virus for prostate cancer presents a compelling case for continued investigation. The virus's dual attack strategy—directly destroying cancer cells while stimulating the immune system—coupled with its favorable safety profile, makes it a strong candidate for further development.
Current evidence suggests that NDV is far from a "misfit" in prostate cancer treatment, though it may not be a standalone "magic bullet" either. The most promising applications likely lie in combination therapies, where NDV enhances the effectiveness of other treatments like immunomodulatory drugs.
As research advances, the prospect of a day when prostate cancer patients might receive treatment derived from a chicken virus moves closer to reality. While more work remains, particularly in translating these findings from laboratory settings to human patients, the path forward is illuminated with promising signs of what may become a breakthrough approach to cancer therapy.
As the field continues to evolve, the words of researchers behind the 2024 study ring true: "These findings suggest a prospective treatment approach that needs more preclinical and clinical studies to improve outcomes in PCa treatment" 2 . With continued investigation, this avian-inspired therapy may one day take flight as a standard weapon in our arsenal against prostate cancer.