New Treatment Uses Herpes Virus to Fight Melanoma

In a breakthrough clinical trial, researchers tested a genetically engineered version of the herpes simplex virus designed to combat melanoma by multiplying inside cancer cells and killing them.

For their trial, researchers randomized 436 participants with aggressive, inoperable malignant melanoma to either receive an injection of the genetically modified herpes virus, Taimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC), or standard immunotherapy.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
FDA Approves Drug to Treat Advanced Melanoma
FDA Round-Up: New Options for COPD, Melanoma, Crohn's Disease
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After 6 months, 16.3% of the T-VEC group showed a positive response to treatment compared to 2.1% of the control group.

According to investigators, patients who had less developed cancers (stage IIIB, IIIC, IVM1a) and those who had not received any treatment responded best to T-VEC; this highlighted the potential for T-VEC to be used as a first-line treatment for metastatic melanoma.

“Our study showed that T-VEC can deliver a significant, durable benefit for people with melanoma. It is encouraging that the treatment had such a clear benefit for patients with less advanced cancers – ongoing studies are evaluating if it can become a first-line treatment for more aggressive melanomas and advanced disease,” said Kevin Harrington, PhD, lead author of the study and professor of Biological Cancer Therapies at the ICR and Honorary Consultant at The Royal Marsden.

The complete study is published in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

-Michelle Canales Butcher

Reference:
1. The Institute of Cancer Research. World first as viral immunotherapy for skin cancer shows patient benefit in Phase III trial. May 26, 2015. www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/world-first-as-viral-immunotherapy-for-skin-cancer-shows-patient-benefit-in-phase-iii-trial. Accessed May 27, 2015.