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Kevin Harrington

Kevin Harrington is a head and neck oncologist and oncolytic virus pioneer who led the OPTiM trial of T-VEC.

Kevin Harrington led the OPTiM trial that brought talimogene laherparepvec to approval, and studies combinations of radiotherapy, viruses, and immunotherapy in head and neck cancer and melanoma.

Role
Professor of Biological Cancer Therapies, ICR; Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Royal Marsden
Specialisms
Head and neck cancerOncolytic virusesRadiotherapy-immunotherapy combinations
Profiles

Papers

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TitleJournalYear
Talimogene laherparepvec improves durable response rate in patients with advanced melanoma (OPTiM)JCO2015

Key papers

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rctThe Lancet 2019changed practice
KEYNOTE-048: pembrolizumab, alone or with chemotherapy, as first treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer

Patients with head and neck squamous cell cancer that has recurred or spread should be treated first with pembrolizumab: alone if their tumour is strongly PD-L1 positive and they can wait for a slower response, or with chemotherapy if the tumour is bulky or PD-L1 low. Cetuximab-based chemotherapy is no longer the default. Long-term follow-up shows a small but real group of patients alive at four to five years, which was almost unheard of before.

Connected

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cancers

2
Head and neck squamous cell carcinomaMelanoma

technologies

1
Oncolytic viruses

drugs

2
ApprovedOncolytic virus (HSV-1)
Talimogene laherparepvec · Imlygic
ApprovedOncolytic virus (HSV-1)
Vusolimogene oderparepvec · Tudriqev

institutions

2
The Institute of Cancer ResearchThe Royal Marsden

ideas

3
A neutral platform trial for radiotherapy plus immunotherapy combinationsFunded research pathways for surgeon-scientists and radiation oncologist-scientistsOncolytic viruses that make interleukin-12 only inside the tumour

key papers

1
KEYNOTE-048: pembrolizumab, alone or with chemotherapy, as first treatment for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer