[elocinstr8t]

Does this have anything to do with genetic modification? If so, this is really cool! But even if it's not, I hope they be successful with this because this will definitely save a lot of lives. I just hope the modified virus won't turn things around and make the person's condition worst.

[thomasfedb]

The virus described here was first engineered by directed evolution, and then genetically modified with additional functions. The virus doesn't attempt to modify the genome of the human patient.

The clever trick is that these viruses are programmed to target cancer by engineering them to not be able to survive in non-cancer cells. In the case of ColoAd1, the virus will be destroyed by the p53 found in normal cells, but missing from cancer cells.

Engineered viruses might also be evolved or engineered specifically with a kill switch mechanism or be selected to be highly sensitive to a particular antiviral medication.

[z_]

This is a fantastic development in the fight against cancer and an encouraging result, of course the question becomes how do we insure, kill switches and all, that we’ve not designed a better “cancer.”

The current literature is bleak on the subject of controlling nature.

[elocinstr8t]

I agree with this. If they succeed in this, like I said, it could potentially save a lot of lives, especially those who have a family history with cancer. But I also agree with what you said, I hope that this modified virus won't kill "good cancer cells" or turn them into something way worse than existing types of cancers.