Virus Activated Killer Immune Cells

Virus Activated Killer Immune Cells (VAK) is an autologous cell therapy designed to treat malignant pleural and peritoneal effusion. The therapy involves isolating a patient's own immune cells (such as T cells and Natural Killer cells) from their malignant pleural and peritoneal effusion. These isolated immune cells are then incubated ex vivo with ultraviolet inactivated oncolytic herpes simplex virus type 2 (UV-oHSV2) and tumor cells. This process re-stimulates the immune cells, which are often in an immune-tolerant state within the tumor microenvironment, enhancing their ability to kill cancer cells. The activated immune cells are subsequently washed to remove impurities and re-infused into the patient's pleural or peritoneal cavity to target and destroy tumor cells, potentially also inducing a specific anti-tumor immune response through the release of tumor-associated antigens.