Relative of smallpox virus may be effective against breast cancer

A relative of the smallpox virus may be an effective weapon against one of the deadliest forms of breast cancer, research has shown.

Laboratory tests showed that more than 90% of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells treated with the vaccinia virus were destroyed within four days.

In mice with the disease, one strain of the virus cleared 60% of tumours while the extent of those left was dramatically reduced.