Real-World Outcomes of Talimogene Laherparepvec Therapy: A Multi-Institutional Experience

Talimogene laherparepvec (TVEC) is an FDA-approved oncolytic herpes virus used to treat unresectable stage IIIB to IV metastatic melanoma via intralesional injection. This study aims to characterize the efficacy TVEC in patients with unresectable stage IIIB to IV melanoma.

We performed a multi-institutional, IRB-approved review of all patients who received TVEC at 3 centers from October 2015 to October 2018. Clinicopathologic characteristics, TVEC treatment data, and outcomes were assessed.

One hundred and twenty-one patients received TVEC, of which 80 patients had available treatment response data with at least 3-month follow-up. Anatomic sites treated were 19 (24%) head and neck, 9 (11%) upper extremity, 12 (15%) torso, and 40 (50%) lower extremity. Thirty-four (42.5%) patients did not receive therapy before TVEC. Side effects were mild and self-limited, most commonly flu-like symptoms seen in 22 (28%) patients. Median follow-up was 9 months (range 3 to 28 months), with complete local response in 31 (39%) and partial response in 14 (18%) patients. Of complete responders, 29 (37%) had no evidence of disease at last follow-up and received a median of 6 (range 2 to 12) cycles of therapy.

Talimogene laherparepvec is a well-tolerated, durable treatment option for patients with unresectable locoregional melanoma, particularly in stage IIIB/C disease. Additionally, we found that TVEC can be administered safely across anatomic sites that are otherwise not amenable to other local therapies.