Adding T-VEC to Ipilimumab for Advanced Melanoma

During the past few years, several immunotherapy approaches have been approved for the treatment of patients with locally advanced and metastatic melanoma. The anti-CTLA-4 checkpoint inhibitor ipilimumab has demonstrated an objective response in 5% to 20% of patients, although many more seem to benefit, as more than 20% are still alive at 5 to 10 years. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) — a granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor–expressing attenuated herpes simplex virus that is administered directly into melanoma superficial lesions — has proven effective at inducing durable responses in regional disease, even in noninjected lesions, and occasionally in distant visceral disease.

To test the efficacy and safety of combining ipilimum…