T-VEC in Melanoma

Robert Andtbacka, MD, an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a surgeon and investigator with Intermountain Healthcare and Huntsman Cancer Institute, discusses a trial analyzing talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) in melanoma.

In a randomized phase III clinical trial, T-VEC was compared to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in patients with unresected stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV melanoma.

The primary endpoint of this trial, a durable response rate lasting six months or longer, was met. In the T-VEC arm, 16% of patients had a durable response lasting six months or longer, compared to 2% in the GM-CSF arm.

Clinical Pearls

The secondary endpoint of the trial was overall survival. There was a planned interim analysis of overall survival when 85% of a planned 290 events had been met. In the interim analysis, a trend to improvement in survival was observed. Andtbacka says a final analysis will be available later this year.

• T-VEC was compared to GM-CSF in patients with unresected stage IIIB, IIIC, or IV melanoma
• The primary endpoint of the trial was durable response rate lasting six months or longer
• The secondary endpoint of the trial was overall survival