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A new type of cancer therapy that uses a common virus to infect and destroy harmful cells is showing big promise in early human trials.
The drug is a weakened form of the cold sore virus - herpes simplex - that has been modified to kill tumours.
The injections attacks cancer by invading the cancerous cells and making them burst, and by activating the immune system.
One patient's cancer vanished, while others saw their tumours shrink.
Among 40 patients participated in the ongoing phase one safety trial, run by the ICR and the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
Some were given the virus injection (RP2), while others also a cancer drug nivolumab.
Three of nine patients given RP2 only saw their tumours shrink.
Seven of 30 had combined treatment also appeared to benefit.
Lead researcher Kevin Harrington the treatment responses were "truly impressive" across a range of advanced cancers, including cancer of the gullet (oesophagus) and a rare type of eye cancer.
Harrington calls RP2 a souped-up version of T-Vec.
Larger studies will be needed, but experts say the injection might ultimately offer a lifeline to more people with advanced cancers.
