Dr. Edington on the Utilization of TVEC Therapy in Melanoma

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.