1. Safe and effective administration of T-VEC in a patient with heart transplantation and recurrent locally advanced melanoma
- Author
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Gustavo Schvartsman, Kristen Perez, Jill E. Flynn, Jeffrey N. Myers, and Hussein Tawbi
- Subjects
Cancer ,Melanoma ,Immunotherapy ,Allotransplant ,Rejection ,T-VEC ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,RC254-282 - Abstract
Abstract Background Immunotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of metastatic melanoma. Patients with autoimmune conditions and/or on immunosuppressive therapy due to orthotropic transplants, however, are systematically excluded from clinical trials. Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is the first oncolytic virus to be approved by the FDA for cancer therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of T-VEC being administered in the setting of an organ transplant recipient. Case presentation Here we present the case of a patient with recurrent locally advanced cutaneous melanoma receiving salvage T-VEC therapy in the setting of orthotropic heart transplantation. After 5 cycles of therapy, no evidence of graft rejection has been observed to date, and the patient achieved a complete remission, and is currently off therapy. Conclusion This case advocates for further investigation on the safety and efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches, such as T-VEC, in solid organ transplant recipients.
- Published
- 2017
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