quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine

This is a quadrivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (QIV) being repurposed as an intratumoral immunotherapy for the treatment of melanoma. Led by Dr. Carlo M. Contreras at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, the Phase I clinical trial (NCT04697576) investigates the safety and maximum tolerated dose of the vaccine when injected directly into melanoma lesions. The rationale for this approach is that the inactivated virus particles act as a potent stimulus for the innate immune system within the tumor microenvironment. By activating sensors such as Toll-like receptors (TLR7/8) and RIG-I, the vaccine is hypothesized to convert immunologically "cold" tumors into "hot" tumors, recruiting T cells and potentially enhancing the efficacy of systemic checkpoint inhibitors. The study evaluates the vaccine as a monotherapy for resectable melanoma and in combination with PD-1 or CTLA-4 inhibitors for metastatic disease.

Other names

intralesional influenza vaccineintratumoral influenza vaccine