Other research has evaluated the use of coxsackievirus type A21 (Cavatak, Viralytics) — a formulation of the common cold virus that is also called CVA21 — to target melanoma. Andtbacka and colleagues presented final phase 2 data from the CALM trial at the ASCO Annual Meeting last year. Results showed 38.6% of patients treated with CVA21 achieved 6-month immune-related PFS and 75.4% achieved 1-year survival.
These data prompted the initiation of an extension study in which researchers evaluated biopsies from CVA21–injected and –noninjected lesions. Researchers observed increases in immune cell infiltrates in all four patients who had failed immune checkpoint blockade.
“Cavatak can be administered intravenously, at very high doses, with really only grade 1 toxicities,” Andtbacka said. “When we deliver it, it seeks out and gets into tumors. It provides a mechanism to use oncolytic immunotherapies in patients who do not have an injectable lesion, or a lung or liver metastasis. In this case, we can go beyond intralesional agents.”
These agents also are being compared in combinations. The MITCI study is evaluating CVA21 plus ipilimumab for patients with unresectable melanoma. Early data demonstrated signs of antitumor activity at 14 weeks in metastatic visceral and nonvisceral lesions.
Always encouraging to hear Dr Andtbacka comments.
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