Addition of T-VEC to Pembrolizumab in Advanced Melanoma
Source: The Asco Post, June 2022
As reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology by Chesney et al, the phase III MASTERKEY-265 trial has shown no significant improvement in progression-free survival or overall survival with the addition of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) to pembrolizumab in patients with advanced melanoma.
Study Details
The double-blind trial included 692 patients from sites in 21 countries with stage IIIB to IVM1c unresectable melanoma who had not received prior anti–PD-1 treatment. They were randomly assigned between March 2016 and April 2018 to receive T-VEC plus pembrolizumab (n = 346) or placebo plus pembrolizumab (n = 346). T-VEC was given at ? 4 x 106 plaque-forming units (PFU) followed by ? 4 x 108 PFU 3 weeks later, once every 2 weeks until dose 5, and once every 3 weeks thereafter. Pembrolizumab was given at 200 mg once every 3 weeks.
The dual primary endpoints were progression-free survival using modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 on blinded independent central review and overall survival.