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Immuno-Oncolytic Virotherapy for Melanoma

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Melanoma

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Abstract

Oncolytic virotherapy is a targeted immunotherapeutic approach to induce tumor cell lysis in vivo, with efficacy in a wide range of cancers, including melanoma. Viruses are carefully selected based on their ability to demonstrate selective tumor cell replication, and viral genomic modifications are used to enhance such replication and create a heightened immune response. Current use of oncolytic viruses (OVs) in melanoma ranges from discovery in the experimental phase to proof of efficacy in clinical trials. With the 2015 approval of Talimogene laherparepvec for the treatment of advanced melanoma, we have added yet another tool to effectively treat those with locally unresectable or in-transit disease. Recently, combination therapy trials with OVs and immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown to have some very promising results in patients with advanced, often metastatic, melanoma. This chapter includes an overview of the history of and making of OVs as well as a detailed summary of current clinical trials in melanoma patients. With new experimental data on oncolytic virotherapy published in ever-increasing numbers, the future of OVs for the treatment of melanoma seems to hold promise as a major component of treatment for melanoma.

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Abbreviations

AE:

     Adverse event

BSL:

     Biosafety level

CD:

     Cluster of differentiation

CRAds:

    Conditionally replicative adenoviruses

CTLA:

   Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen

DC:

     Dendritic cell

DR:

     Durable response

FDA:

     FOOD and Drug Administration

GM-CSF:

   Granulocyte monocyte colony-stimulating factor

HMW-MAA:

 High molecular weight tumor-associated antigen

HSV:

     Herpes simplex virus

IFN:

     Interferon

IL:

      Interleukin

irPFS:

    Immune-related progression free survival

IT:

      Intratumoral

MAA:

    Melanoma-associated antigen

MHC:

    Major histocompatibility complex

MMP:

    Matrix metalloprotease

MV:

     Measles virus

NARA:

    Neutralizing anti-reovirus antibodies

NDV:

    Newcastle disease virus

NK:

    Natural killer

OPTiM:

 Oncovex (GM-CSF) Pivotal Trial in Melanoma

ORR:

  Overall response rate

OV:

    Oncolytic virus

PD:

    Programmed death receptor

Pfu:

    Plaque forming unit

PPE:

   Personal protective equipment

PPR:

   Progression prior to response

RECST:

 Response evaluation criteria in solid tumors

TAA:

  Tumor-associated antigen

TGF:

  Transforming growth factor

TNF:

  Tumor necrosis factor

TPV:

  Tanapox virus

Tregs:

   Regulatory T-cells

T-vec:

   Talimogene laherparepvec

VSV:

   Vesicular stomatitis virus

VV:

    Vaccinia virus

Wt:

     Wild type

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. John Jellies, Dr. Cecil McIntire, and Susan McIntire for editorial comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Virology, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    Helene Woyczesczyk & Karim Essani Ph.D.

Authors
  1. Helene Woyczesczyk
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  2. Karim Essani Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Karim Essani Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Adam I. Riker

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Woyczesczyk, H., Essani, K. (2018). Immuno-Oncolytic Virotherapy for Melanoma. In: Riker, A. (eds) Melanoma. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_31

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-78310-9_31

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