Virologist Treats Own Cancer with Viruses

Beata Halassy, a Croatian virologist, self-administered an experimental treatment for her stage 3 breast cancer, opting for oncolytic virotherapy (OVT) over conventional chemotherapy. Utilizing her expertise, she injected her tumor with two lab-grown viruses – a measles virus and a vesicular stomatitis virus – both of which have been studied in clinical trials but are not approved for breast cancer treatment. Remarkably, after two months of treatment, her tumor shrank significantly, allowing for successful surgical removal, and Halassy has remained cancer-free for nearly four years. While her method sparked excitement, it also raised ethical concerns among experts regarding the risks of self-experimentation in unproven therapies. Halassy maintained close monitoring by oncologists throughout her treatment, who were prepared to intervene if necessary. The case illustrates the potential of OVT but also highlights the need for careful ethical considerations in cancer treatment.