In an exciting new study released from the Mayo clinic, oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was infused into mice with myeloma that had either just exercised (high blood pressure; ‘EX’) or were anaesthetised (low blood pressure; ‘ISO’).

Mice that had a higher blood pressure during intravenous perfusion showed a greater density of virus reaching the tumour site. Virus was also spread across the tumour in a more uniform pattern.

The mice receiving virus treatment at a higher blood pressure also had a significantly longer survival time (see graphs above; top=survival curves, bottom=individual tumour sizes).

These results have potential positive implications for patients undergoing oncolytic viroimmunotherapy, since raising the blood pressure is easily achieved prior to virus infusion without the need for additional drugs or interventions.