Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2

Background: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are both used in the intralesional treatment of melanoma skin metastases. T-VEC received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, while IL-2 has been used off-label...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Markus Reitmajer, Lena Nanz, Nina Müller, Ulrike Leiter, Teresa Amaral, Valentin Aebischer, Lukas Flatz, Andrea Forschner
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2025-03-01
Series:Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251324035
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850263634404442112
author Markus Reitmajer
Lena Nanz
Nina Müller
Ulrike Leiter
Teresa Amaral
Valentin Aebischer
Lukas Flatz
Andrea Forschner
author_facet Markus Reitmajer
Lena Nanz
Nina Müller
Ulrike Leiter
Teresa Amaral
Valentin Aebischer
Lukas Flatz
Andrea Forschner
author_sort Markus Reitmajer
collection DOAJ
description Background: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are both used in the intralesional treatment of melanoma skin metastases. T-VEC received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, while IL-2 has been used off-label for this purpose for many years. Despite their use in clinical practice, there is a lack of comparative data on the efficacy and safety of these treatments. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional T-VEC and IL-2 in non-resectable stage III patients with melanoma treated at a single center between January 2016 and September 2024. Methods: We identified eligible patients using the Central Malignant Melanoma Registry and the local University Hospital Pharmacy database. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. Furthermore, best response rates and occurrence of adverse events (AEs) were compared between the T-VEC and the IL-2 group. Concomitant systemic treatment was allowed. Results: A total of 62 patients were included, with 37 receiving T-VEC and 25 receiving IL-2 as first-line therapy. Ten patients received both therapies subsequently. The median PFS for the cohort was 5.0 months, and the median OS was 34.0 months. No significant differences in PFS ( p  = 0.790), OS ( p  = 0.894), or best response rates ( p  = 0.468) were found between groups. Common AEs included local injection site reactions and fever, with no severe events leading to discontinuation by a physician. Conclusion: No significant differences in PFS, OS, or best response rates were observed between IL-2 and T-VEC treatments. The choice of therapy may be influenced by factors such as availability, physician preference, and patient-specific considerations.
format Article
id doaj-art-9aaffe5fe6b84049a1373d242e3d3bac
institution OA Journals
issn 1758-8359
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher SAGE Publishing
record_format Article
series Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
spelling doaj-art-9aaffe5fe6b84049a1373d242e3d3bac2025-08-20T01:54:55ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology1758-83592025-03-011710.1177/17588359251324035Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2Markus ReitmajerLena NanzNina MüllerUlrike LeiterTeresa AmaralValentin AebischerLukas FlatzAndrea ForschnerBackground: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) are both used in the intralesional treatment of melanoma skin metastases. T-VEC received regulatory approval from the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015, while IL-2 has been used off-label for this purpose for many years. Despite their use in clinical practice, there is a lack of comparative data on the efficacy and safety of these treatments. Objectives: This retrospective study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional T-VEC and IL-2 in non-resectable stage III patients with melanoma treated at a single center between January 2016 and September 2024. Methods: We identified eligible patients using the Central Malignant Melanoma Registry and the local University Hospital Pharmacy database. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. Furthermore, best response rates and occurrence of adverse events (AEs) were compared between the T-VEC and the IL-2 group. Concomitant systemic treatment was allowed. Results: A total of 62 patients were included, with 37 receiving T-VEC and 25 receiving IL-2 as first-line therapy. Ten patients received both therapies subsequently. The median PFS for the cohort was 5.0 months, and the median OS was 34.0 months. No significant differences in PFS ( p  = 0.790), OS ( p  = 0.894), or best response rates ( p  = 0.468) were found between groups. Common AEs included local injection site reactions and fever, with no severe events leading to discontinuation by a physician. Conclusion: No significant differences in PFS, OS, or best response rates were observed between IL-2 and T-VEC treatments. The choice of therapy may be influenced by factors such as availability, physician preference, and patient-specific considerations.https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251324035
spellingShingle Markus Reitmajer
Lena Nanz
Nina Müller
Ulrike Leiter
Teresa Amaral
Valentin Aebischer
Lukas Flatz
Andrea Forschner
Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology
title Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
title_full Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
title_fullStr Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
title_full_unstemmed Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
title_short Comparative real-world outcomes of stage III melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
title_sort comparative real world outcomes of stage iii melanoma patients treated with talimogene laherparepvec or interleukin 2
url https://doi.org/10.1177/17588359251324035
work_keys_str_mv AT markusreitmajer comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT lenananz comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT ninamuller comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT ulrikeleiter comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT teresaamaral comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT valentinaebischer comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT lukasflatz comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2
AT andreaforschner comparativerealworldoutcomesofstageiiimelanomapatientstreatedwithtalimogenelaherparepvecorinterleukin2