Modified form of herpes virus used for melanoma treatment

The skin cancer melanoma is one of the most common and serious cancers in the U.S. It can be life-threatening in as little as six weeks.

Its tumors can be resistant to many traditional cancer treatments like chemotherapy.

Now, a unique treatment is increasing the chances of survival for some melanoma patients.

From pitching to pool play, most of Christine McGonigal’s fondest experiences with her grandkids happen outside, but all that came to a halt when she discovered a raised bump on her right leg.

Doctors said it was melanoma, an often aggressive skin cancer linked to UV light. After more than a year of treatment, the tumor kept coming back, and then, “He did the imlygic,” McGonigal said.

Imlygic is the first FDA-approved viral drug for melanoma. It has an unexpected ingredient.

“It’s a modified form of herpes virus. It not only kills melanoma cells, but it also exposes the byproducts of its melanoma cells to the immune system,” said Dr. Vadim Gushchin, surgical oncologist at Mercy Medical Center.

Helping prevent new cancer cells from forming in tumors visible by ultrasound.

“You draw the drug into the syringe and inject it directly into the melanoma,” Gushchin said.

While some may experience temporary flu-like symptoms after injections, it’s uncommon to actually contract the herpes virus from imlygic.

“They are actually able to see how lesions disappear in front of them, which is very rewarding,” Gushchin said.

For McGonigal, it was a last resort that worked. Her scars remain, but the melanoma hasn’t come back in two years.

The drug comes in the form of an injection. It takes about 10 minutes, and treatment is conducted over several months.

So far, seven in 10 patients saw a reduction in their melanoma tumors within about four months, and three in 10 had their melanoma disappear for many months to years.