Adapted ECHO-7 virus Rigvir immunotherapy (oncolytic virotherapy) prolongs survival in melanoma patients after surgical excision of the tumour in a retrospective study

Abstract

An oncolytic, nonpathogenic ECHO-7 virus adapted for melanoma that has not been genetically modified (Rigvir) is approved and registered for virotherapy, an active and specific immunotherapy, in Latvia since 2004. The present retrospective study was carried out to determine the effectiveness of Rigvir in substage IB, IIA, IIB and IIC melanoma patients on time to progression and overall survival. White patients (N=79) who had undergone surgical excision of the primary melanoma tumour were included in this study. All patients were free from disease after surgery and classified into substages IB, IIA, IIB and IIC. Circulating levels of clinical chemistry parameters were recorded. Survival was analysed by Cox regression. Rigvir significantly (P<0.05) prolonged survival in substage IB–IIC melanoma patients following surgery compared with patients who were under observation (according to current guidelines). The hazard ratio for patients under observation versus treated with Rigvir was statistically significantly different: hazard ratio 6.27 for all, 4.39 for substage IIA–IIB–IIC and 6.57 for substage IIB–IIC patients. The follow-up period was not statistically different between both treatment groups. These results indicate that the patients treated with Rigvir had a 4.39–6.57-fold lower mortality than those under observation. In this study, there was no untoward side effect or discontinuation of Rigvir treatment. Safety assessment of adverse events graded according to NCI CTCAE did not show any value above grade 2 in Rigvir-treated patients. In conclusion, Rigvir significantly prolongs survival in early-stage melanoma patients without any side effect.

Recent advances in vesicular stomatitis virus-based oncolytic virotherapy: a 5-year update

“…Numerous pre-clinical and clinical successes have been reported [1,2], and currently three OVs are approved for clinical use: herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1)-based T-VEC for melanoma, approved in the USA and later in the European Union [3]; enteric cytopathic human orphan virus 7-based RIGVIR for melanoma, approved in Latvia, Georgia and Armenia [4]; and adenovirus type 5-based Gendicine and Oncorine for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in China [5].…”

The Role of Oncolytic Viruses in the Treatment of Melanoma

“…Rigvir targets CD55/DAF-3, a GPI-anchored protein present on cancer cells, and has the ability to elicit both humoral and T-cell-mediated anti-tumor responses. (66, 67) A retrospective study of Rigvir in patients with stage IB-IIC melanoma found that Rigvir significantly prolonged survival and reduced mortality, without record of any “untoward” side effects(68), and a case report showed prolonged survival in patients with stage IV M1c melanoma treated with Rigvir. (69) The case report data has limited applicability, as it was obtained retrospectively and lacked a control arm.…”

Short Overview of Clinical Trials With Current Immunotherapeutic Tools for Cancer Treatment

“…Онколитические вирусы уже применяются в клинической практике. В 2004 г. в Латвии был одобрен препарат Rigvir, созданный на основе природного штамма эховируса 7-го типа [3,18]. Была показана его способность пода-влять различные виды рака, такие как меланома, рак желудка, рак прямой и толстой кишки, рак поджелудочной железы, рак почки, рак мочево-го пузыря, рак шейки матки, а также различные виды саркомы [3].…”