Dr. Edington on the Utilization of TVEC Therapy in Melanoma
Source: Onc Live, April 2022
Howard D. Edington, MD, director, Cutaneous Oncology Program, Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, Allegheny Health Network, discusses the use of talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC; Imlygic) in melanoma.
T-VEC, a modified herpes type 1 virus, that has been utilized in the treatment of melanoma for about 5 years, Edington says. T-VEC is genetically engineered to infect cancer cells and spare normal, healthy cells, Edington explains. The oncolytic virus has also been engineered to produce granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, which is an immunomodulatory cytokine, Edington adds.
Because melanoma is often both visible and palpable, T-VEC can be given intralesionally and injected straight into the tumor, making this an easy procedure, and it can work with other therapies, Edington concludes.
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