This invention provides tools and methods that prevent a cancer cell from growing and reproducing more cancer cells. The body's immune defenses are enabled to attack and destroy these cells if the cancer cell itself has not initiated its own natural apoptotic self-destruction processes. By addressing the increased rates of metabolism characteristic of all rapidly reproducing cancer cells using bio-nanotechnology to identify these hypermetabolizing cells, the cell's and the body's immune systems are empowered to eliminate the diseased cells. Preferably, the nano-sensor-particle not only binds external membrane receptors or lipid formations on the target cell, but also incorporates into the rapidly metabolizing cells acting to stop their growth and signal distress. The body's natural defenses are able to segregate and eliminate these cells.

This invention teaches systems and methods for identifying, targeting and destroying cancer cells with a cell-killing vector attracted to signature elements common to most cancer cells. As cells progress from a normal to a cancerous state their accelerated metabolic rates and adapted pathways generate excess amounts of H.sup.+ (resulting in a locally reduced pH) along with a higher heat signature that can serve as a targeting beacon for a specialized cell killing vectors such as a virus and/or a liposome. The cancer cell's heat/pH signature in large part is due to the cell's decreased reliance on mitochondria and the mitochondrial electron transport chain. A lactate overload built up using the alternative ATP generation pathway must be excreted by the cell. Co-transport of H.sup.+/lactate is accomplished mainly through a mono-carboxylate transporter 4 protein (MCT4). The present invention while using the pH/heat signature as a delivery adjunct increases targeted killing effectiveness by improving the cell killer vector targeting with a protein capable of binding MCT4. The higher concentration of vector in contact with the targeted cells enhances the heat and pH associated delivery of lethal agents.

The present invention provides a recombinant influenza virus vector comprising an NS gene encoding a truncated NS1 protein of at least 73 and up to 122 amino acids of the N-terminus of the respective wild type NS1 protein, wherein the vector replicates in IFN-sensitive tumor cells and does not replicate in normal, non-tumor cells, and expresses a heterologous immunostimulatory polypetide. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the influenza virus vector, its use for the treatment of cancer patients and methods for producing the influenza virus vaccine.

The present invention provides a recombinant influenza virus vector comprising an NS gene encoding a truncated NS1 protein of at least 73 and up to 122 amino acids of the N-terminus of the respective wild type NS1 protein, wherein the vector replicates in IFN-sensitive tumor cells and does not replicate in normal, non-tumor cells, and expresses a heterologous immunostimulatory polypetide. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition containing the influenza virus vector, its use for the treatment of cancer patients and methods for producing the influenza virus vaccine.

The present invention provides a recombinant influenza virus vector comprising an NS gene encoding a truncated NS1 protein of at least 73 and up to 122 amino acids of the N-terminus of the respective wild type NS 1 protein, wherein said vector replicates in IFN-sensitive tumor cells and does not replicate in normal, non-tumor cells, and expresses a heterologous immunostimulatory polypetide. The invention further provides a pharmaceutical composition containing said influenza virus vector, its use for the treatment of cancer patients and methods for producing said influenza virus vaccine.