Polio virus turned against skin cancer in new trial
NCT ID NCT04577807
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.
Disclaimer
Read more
Show less
This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for MELANOMA are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Show contact details
Enter your email to view the contact information for this study.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
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