Deep and durable response to re-challenge with platinum-based therapy in a platinum-relapsed small cell lung cancer patient following Olvi-Vec oncolytic immunotherapy: a case report

Abstract

Oncolytic viral therapy has broad antitumor and immuno-oncology effects that may be useful in managing malignancies, particularly in relapsed or refractory diseases following conventional therapeutic regimens. We report a case involving a patient enrolled in an ongoing phase Ib clinical trial of Olvi-Vec, a modified oncolytic vaccinia virus, in patients with platinum-relapsed/refractory advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this 58-year-old woman who had progressed after frontline treatment with platinum and etoposide, a deep and durable partial objective response (84.6% reduction in target lesion size) and progression-free survival (16.7 months) were observed following a single course of Olvi-Vec followed by re-challenge with platinum-based therapy. These findings exceed expected clinical outcomes based on historical data. Olvi-Vec therapy was well tolerated. The clinical effect observed in this patient may be related to Olvi-Vec-mediated changes in the tumor microenvironment, potentially leading to platinum re-sensitization. The results of this case report indicate that the role of Olvi-Vec as an oncolytic immunotherapy for cancer treatment warrants additional study.