Comparative Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Advanced Melanoma: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Meta-analysis of TIL and Engineered Viral Vector Therapies

Melanoma remains one of the most treatment-refractory malignancies due to immune evasion, high mutational burden, and profound tumor heterogeneity. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors have transformed frontline management, a substantial proportion of patients develop resistance or experience relapse, underscoring the need for alternative and complementary immunotherapeutic strategies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy and engineered viral vector–based immunotherapies represent mechanistically distinct yet clinically promising approaches for advanced melanoma.

This systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis evaluated the comparative efficacy of TIL therapy and engineered viral vector immunotherapies in advanced melanoma. A structured search of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science (2015–2025) identified 13 eligible studies, including four randomized controlled trials and nine prospective single-arm studies, reporting objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related adverse events. Eight studies met criteria for inclusion in the Bayesian quantitative synthesis of ORR outcomes. Risk of bias and certainty of evidence were assessed using Cochrane and GRADE frameworks.

TIL therapy demonstrated substantial standalone efficacy, particularly in PD-1–refractory populations, with reported ORRs reaching 49%, median PFS of 7.2 months, and OS extending to 25.8 months. Viral vector–based therapies, including talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and RP1, showed more modest monotherapy activity but demonstrated improved responses when combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Among the studies included in the Bayesian quantitative synthesis, the pooled ORR estimate was 37.8% (95% highest density interval [HDI]: 30.6%–45.3%). Sensitivity analysis excluding the small-sample Cui et al. (2022) study yielded a similar pooled estimate of 38.3% (95% HDI: 30.4%–46.2%). Exploratory meta-regression supported the overall robustness of the findings. Certainty of evidence for ORR was moderate, whereas survival and safety outcomes were downgraded due to heterogeneity, sparse reporting, and inconsistent endpoint definitions.

Collectively, these findings support complementary rather than competing roles for TIL and engineered viral vector immunotherapies within evolving melanoma treatment paradigms. The results further highlight the potential importance of biomarker-guided sequencing strategies, including viral immune priming followed by adoptive cellular therapy, as a framework for optimizing personalized immunotherapy in both refractory and earlier-line melanoma settings.