title: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec) for the treatment of melanoma and other cancers.
abstract: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-Vec) is the first live virus to be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of cancer. This engineered version of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is the product of decades of preclinical work aimed at identifying and modifying aspects of the viral genome involved in virulence and immunogenicity. T-Vec preferentially infects and lyses tumor cells and, in some cases, induces a systemic immune response against the tumor. These properties have translated into significant and durable clinical responses, particularly in advanced melanoma. Many unanswered questions remain, including how to augment these clinical responses and which other tumor types may respond to oncolytic therapy. Here, we review the development of T-Vec, our current understanding of its impact on the tumor immune micro-environment, and its safety and efficacy in clinical trials for melanoma and other cancers.
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Claud
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grigg
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Zoë
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Robyn
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gartrell
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacher
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Bret
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Taback
authors.affiliation: Hematology/Oncology, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Electronic address: yms4@cumc.columbia.edu.
authors.forename: Yvonne
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saenger
mesh_terms: D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D050130:Oncolytic Virotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D014764:Viral Proteins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C105843:ICP47 protein, Herpes simplex virus; D017874:Immediate-Early Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C066469:gamma 34.5 protein, Human herpesvirus 1; D016178:Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
keywords: HSV-1; Immunotherapy; Melanoma; Oncolytic virus; T-Vec