Medical researchers develop new tools for cancer therapy and transplant monitoring

Researchers in Spain and Argentina have developed new medical technologies to improve immunotherapy and transplant monitoring.

A team led by Dr. Rafael Moreno at IDIBELL and ICO has developed CONAN (Controlled-replication ONcolytic AdeNovirus). This technology modifies both mesenchymal stem cells and oncolytic viruses to improve the delivery of therapeutic viruses to tumors. By using stem cells as vehicles, the system helps prevent the immune system from neutralizing the viruses before they reach their target, while also allowing for controlled viral activation to maximize efficacy.

In Argentina, investigators from Conicet and Cemic have created a model to predict rejection and infection risks in kidney transplant patients. The tool uses the measurement of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) in the blood as an ‘immunometer’. Because TTV levels reflect the state of the immune system, the model helps clinicians balance immunosuppressant medication to prevent organ rejection without leaving patients overly vulnerable to infections.