Polio virus turned against skin cancer in new trial

NCT ID NCT04577807

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Istari Oncology, Inc. Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This Phase 2 trial tested a modified polio virus called lerapolturev, alone or combined with an immunotherapy drug, in 27 adults with advanced melanoma that had stopped responding to standard PD-1 therapy. The virus was injected directly into tumors to trigger an immune attack. Researchers measured tumor shrinkage, side effects, and survival. The goal was to see if this approach could offer a new option for hard-to-treat melanoma.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Lerapolturev (a modified polio virus) and an anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor (immunotherapy drug)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced melanoma that no longer responds to standard immunotherapy.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial with only 27 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The virus-based therapy may cause side effects or fail to shrink tumors.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

cutaneous melanoma melanoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

MELANOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Zion, Illinois, 60099, United States
Hackensack University Medical Center

Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601, United States
Henry Ford Health System

Detroit, Michigan, 48208, United States
HonorHealth Research Institute

Scottsdale, Arizona, 85258, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Orlando Health U7 Health Cancer Center

Orlando, Florida, 32806, United States
Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
Texas Oncology -Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center

Dallas, Texas, 75246, United States
University of Pittsburgh Hillman Cancer Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
Virginia Commonwealth University

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
West Virginia University Medical Center

Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, United States

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