Lauren M B Burke1, Hyeon Yu2, Kaleigh Burke2, Morgan Gwynn3, Raphael J Louie4, David W Ollila5, Paula Landman Rn4, Frances Collichio4. 1. Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 101 Manning Drive, CB 7510, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. lauren_burke@med.unc.edu. 2. Department of Radiology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 101 Manning Drive, CB 7510, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 3. Department of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 4. Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. 5. Department of Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of Talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic, T-VEC) in patients with advanced non-palpable melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients (mean age, 67.9 years ± 13.0; range, 40-88; 12 males) with unresectable, locally advanced melanoma underwent ultrasound-guided intralesional injections of T-VEC (July 2016-March 2020) into subcutaneous lesions. Tumor response to the injection was evaluated at the last follow-up. Technical success and complication rates were recorded. RESULTS: The T-VEC injection was technically successful in all patients with all lesions successfully punctured (100%). The mean number of lesions, injection cycles, and injection volumes were 4.1 ± 2.6 (1-9), 6.5 ± 3.0 (3-12), and 2.6 mL ± 1.4 (1-4 mL), respectively. During the follow-up period (mean, 21.0 months ± 13.4; range 1-43.6 months), complete remission, partial remission, persistent disease, and disease progression were observed in 6 (42.9%), 3 (21.4%), 1 (7.1%), and 4 (28.6%) patients, respectively. Post-treatment symptoms observed in 9 patients (64.3%), including fever (n = 2), fatigue (n = 1), headache (n = 1), pain (n = 1), mouth sores (n = 1), and flu-like symptoms (n = 3). No injection-related complications occurred in all procedures. CONCLUSION: Intralesional injection of T-VEC for non-palpable metastases under ultrasound guidance is safe and feasible in patients with advanced melanoma.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of ultrasound-guided intralesional injection of Talimogene laherparepvec (Imlygic, T-VEC) in patients with advanced non-palpable melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients (mean age, 67.9 years ± 13.0; range, 40-88; 12 males) with unresectable, locally advanced melanoma underwent ultrasound-guided intralesional injections of T-VEC (July 2016-March 2020) into subcutaneous lesions. Tumor response to the injection was evaluated at the last follow-up. Technical success and complication rates were recorded. RESULTS: The T-VEC injection was technically successful in all patients with all lesions successfully punctured (100%). The mean number of lesions, injection cycles, and injection volumes were 4.1 ± 2.6 (1-9), 6.5 ± 3.0 (3-12), and 2.6 mL ± 1.4 (1-4 mL), respectively. During the follow-up period (mean, 21.0 months ± 13.4; range 1-43.6 months), complete remission, partial remission, persistent disease, and disease progression were observed in 6 (42.9%), 3 (21.4%), 1 (7.1%), and 4 (28.6%) patients, respectively. Post-treatment symptoms observed in 9 patients (64.3%), including fever (n = 2), fatigue (n = 1), headache (n = 1), pain (n = 1), mouth sores (n = 1), and flu-like symptoms (n = 3). No injection-related complications occurred in all procedures. CONCLUSION: Intralesional injection of T-VEC for non-palpable metastases under ultrasound guidance is safe and feasible in patients with advanced melanoma.