Breast cancer is a killer. It takes the lives of thousands of women every year. With a reputation like that, there’s no doubt as to why so much time, money and effort has gone into the research and development of a cure.

Researchers at Penn State have filed for a patent on their research of a virus called AAV2 that is showing the potential to kill cancer cells in a matter of days.

According to Penn State’s official news source:

“In tissue culture dishes in the laboratory, 100 percent of the cancer cells are destroyed by the virus within seven days, with the majority of the cell death proteins activated on the fifth day. In another study, a fourth breast cancer derived cell line, which is the most aggressive, required three weeks to undergo cell death.”

“Adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) is a virus that regularly infects humans but causes no disease. Past studies by the same researchers show that it promotes tumor cell death in cervical” cancer cells infected with human papillomavirus.

According to the Susan G. Komen website, some tumors grow very rapidly however most grow slowly inside the breast and could take up to 10 years before its large enough to feel during a self examination. Breast cancer can have no symptoms at all, however, some signs of breast cancer include:

• A lump, hard knot or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in breast size or shape
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot

More research needs to be done and the FDA must approve the treatment on humans however, this could be the breakthrough many have been hoping for.