Long‐term treatment with the oncolytic ECHO‐7 virus Rigvir of a melanoma stage IV M1c patient, a small cell lung cancer stage IIIA patient, and a histiocytic sarcoma stage IV patient‐three case reports

Abstract

Alberts P, Olmane E, Brok ane L, Krastin ßa Z, Romanovska M, Kup cs K, Isajevs S, Proboka G, Erdmanis R, Nazarovs J, Venskus D. Long-term treatment with the oncolytic ECHO-7 virus Rigvir of a melanoma stage IV M1c patient, a small cell lung cancer stage IIIA patient, and a histiocytic sarcoma stage IV patient-three case reports. APMIS 2016; 124: 896-904 Oncolytic virotherapy is a recent addition to cancer treatment. Here, we describe positive treatment outcomes in three patients using Rigvir virotherapy. One of the patients is diagnosed with melanoma stage IV M1c, one with small cell lung cancer stage IIIA, and one with histiocytic sarcoma stage IV. The diagnoses of all patients are verified by histology or cytology. All patients started Rigvir treatment within a few months after being diagnosed and are currently continuing Rigvir treatment. The degree of regression of the disease has been determined by computed tomography. Safety assessment of adverse events graded according to NCI CTCAE did not show any value above grade 1 during Rigvir Ò treatment. Using current standard treatments, the survival of patients with the present diagnoses is low. In contrast, the patients described here were diagnosed 3.5, 7.0, and 6.6 years ago, and their condition has improved and been stabile for over 1.5, 6.5, and 4 years, respectively. These observations suggest that virotherapy using Rigvir can successfully be used in long-term treatment of patients with melanoma stage IV M1c, small cell lung cancer stage IIIA, and histiocytic sarcoma stage IV and therefore could be included in prospective clinical studies.

The Role of Oncolytic Viruses in the Treatment of Melanoma

“…(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. However, given the potential specificity of this therapy for cancer cells, the safety and efficacy of Rigvir in the treatment of melanoma merits further investigation.…”

Can screening tools for potentially inappropriate prescriptions in older adults prevent serious adverse drug events?

“…To assess patients for ADEs, we used the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4, which was developed by the US National Cancer Institute [28][29][30][31], a method originally developed for the assessment of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. There are three general categories of adverse events (AEs) in the CTCAE: (1) laboratory-based events (e.g., hyponatremia), (2) observable/measurable events (e.g., hypotension), and (3) symptomatic adverse events (e.g., nausea) [31].…”

“…We used CTCAE to identify ADEs. This method is mainly used to classify adverse events in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy [28][29][30], and less is known about its validity in a general geriatric population. However, we will argue that the methodology and structure of the instrument makes it feasible for elderly multimorbid patients as well.…”

Anti‐tumour activity of oncolytic reovirus against canine histiocytic sarcoma cells

“…To our knowledge, there are few reports about the effects of oncolytic viruses (morbillivirus and ECHO‐7 virus) on canine and human histiocytic sarcoma . Therefore, data on the oncolytic effects of reovirus on histiocytic sarcoma cells are expected to serve as important evidences for the rational use of oncolytic viruses in clinical trials.…”

“…To our knowledge, there are few reports about the effects of oncolytic viruses (morbillivirus and ECHO-7 virus) on canine and human histiocytic sarcoma. [17][18][19] Therefore, data on the oncolytic effects of reovirus on histiocytic sarcoma cells are expected to serve as important evidences for the rational use of oncolytic viruses in clinical trials. In the present study, we examined the oncolytic effects, both in vitro and in vivo, of reovirus on canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines and on normal DCs derived from healthy dogs.…”