Key clinical point: The combination of oncolytic immunotherapy and an immune checkpoint inhibitor had promising activity in a phase 2 study including patients with previously treated advanced sarcoma.

Major finding: The objective response rate was 30% for patients in the study, which evaluated the combination of talimogene laherparepvec and pembrolizumab.

Study details: A single-center, phase 2 study including 20 patients with locally advanced or metastatic sarcoma.

Disclosures: The study was funded by Amgen and Merck, with additional grant support from Cycle for Survival and the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute. Reported author disclosures were related to Merck, Amgen, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Exicure, Regeneron, Novartis, Takeda, Nektar, and others.