Review of talimogene laherparepvec: A first-in-class oncolytic viral treatment of advanced melanoma

Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an oncolytic virus based on herpes simplex virus type 1 approved for intralesional treatment of advanced melanoma. In this article, we review the clinical literature on T-VEC for advanced melanoma and provide a practical approach to using T-VEC in the dermatologic surgery and oncology clinic. PubMed was used to conduct a systematic literature review of articles describing the structure, basic science, and clinical and therapeutic properties of T-VEC. The national clinical trials database was also searched for T-VEC clinical trials. Phase I to III clinical trials and early real-world experience have shown the efficacy of T-VEC in advanced melanoma as single or combination therapy with tolerable adverse effects. We conclude that with a standardized clinical approach and training, dermatologists can pave the way in using T-VEC and future oncolytic virus therapies in appropriate clinical scenarios.