# Oncolytic virus + PD-1 blockade

Source: https://onco.cc/pairings/oncolytic-plus-pd1/  
OnCo record `oncolytic-plus-pd1` (Pairing). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

An oncolytic virus blows up tumour cells and inflames the tumour; PD-1 blockade then exploits the inflammation.

## Summary

This combination pairs Oncolytic viruses with Immune checkpoint inhibitors in Melanoma: the virus blows up tumour cells and inflames the tumour, and PD-1 blockade then exploits the inflammation. The mechanism is that viral lysis releases antigens and virus-encoded GM-CSF, and the resulting interferon response upregulates PD-L1, which nivolumab blocks. RP1 (Vusolimogene oderparepvec) plus Nivolumab received accelerated approval in August 2026 for PD-1-refractory melanoma on the IGNYTE study, which produced responses including in uninjected lesions. By contrast, Talimogene laherparepvec plus pembrolizumab did not improve outcomes in the first-line setting (MASTERKEY-265), showing that the treatment setting matters.

## Fields

- Kind: Pairing
- Last checked: 2026-09-04
- Pairs: Oncolytic viruses + Immune checkpoint inhibitors
- Type: combination
- Rationale: Viral lysis releases antigens and encoded GM-CSF; interferon response upregulates PD-L1, which nivolumab blocks.
- Evidence: Accelerated approval in refractory setting; negative in first line for older agent.

## Sources

- MASTERKEY-265: talimogene laherparepvec plus pembrolizumab in advanced melanoma, phase 3 (Journal of Clinical Oncology 2023): https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.22.00343

## Connected records

- cancers: [Melanoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/melanoma/)
- drugs: [Nivolumab](https://onco.cc/drugs/nivolumab/), [Talimogene laherparepvec](https://onco.cc/drugs/talimogene-laherparepvec/), [Vusolimogene oderparepvec](https://onco.cc/drugs/vusolimogene-oderparepvec/)
- key papers: [Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Global Phase III Trial of Talimogene Laherparepvec Combined With Pembrolizumab for Advanced Melanoma](https://onco.cc/key-papers/paper-chesney-j-clin-oncol/)
- technologies: [Immune checkpoint inhibitors](https://onco.cc/technologies/checkpoint-inhibitor/), [Oncolytic viruses](https://onco.cc/technologies/oncolytic-virus/)

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