The herpes virus Cytomegalovirus (CMV) appears to be commonly found in glioblastoma brain cancers (GBM). Data is linking using the antiviral medication Valganciclovir (Valcyte) with improved outcomes in GBM. The data is preliminary. In a May 2026 paper looking back at previous prospective data, highlights on using the antiviral treatment in those receiving chemo-radiation treatment who become re-active with the virus especially when receiving corticosteroids (i.e. dexamethasone) and radiation. This re-activation was linked with earlier tumor recurrence (i.e. cancer growth). Importantly, patients treated with the antiviral drug Valganciclovir did not show viral re-activation (i.e. stopped the virus). The ongoing question continues to be on how much this virus is involved in tumorgenesis?
https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/18/10/1575
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