HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

How can viruses be used to target and treat cancer if they only bind to very specific receptors in the body?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Not in use yet: You are correct in your understanding of the virus biology. If the receptors for a given virus can be induced, selectively in cancer cells, then virus may be used in treatment. However, we do not have the skills to do that, yet.

Answered 12/16/2013

4.7k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

If a person is infected with HPV without symptoms, and the virus remains in the body, how can male cancers be diagnosed or detected early?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

In virotherapy does the virus reproduce in the body or no? Also if a virus has proteins to bind only to certain recepteors how does it bind to cancer?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Can HPV 16 and 18 (the virus that causes cervical cancer) lay dorment in your body for 30+ years before turning into cancer?

2 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

Hi- if I have HPV and ill take my cervix out- will i still have a chance to get cancer? Can the virus manifest itself in other areas of the body? Thx

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Im 40, high risk HPV, same partner for years. If HPV is not cleared by your body after 2 years of contagion does it mean you will develop cancer or can you still have the virus for your lifetime without ever developing cancer? How to avoid disease?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Please tell me what treatable condition can cause temporary blindness?
39y/m, 4 day of virus. Cold, nvdc. Now very weak, falling as if drunk, 60% spot blindness upon standing. Thoughts? Ty!
Can you tell me if cancer is the rapid multiplying of mutated cells, why hasn't a virus been made to target those cells?
Does the human body use fat to be energetic and heal the immune system, heal cancers and viruses, and make body functions more efficient?
Hi am wanting to know if anyone has colon cancer when will the symptoms start showing up and will start affecting the body. Is colon cancer treatable!

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.