Key Factors in Clinical Protocols for Adoptive Cell Therapy in Melanoma

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) with autologous tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) has been studied for patients with advanced metastatic cancers (primarily melanoma) for decades and has changed significantly during that period. Treatment with TIL includes ex vivo cell activation and expansion followed by re-infusion of these cells into the patient. After cell infusion, patients receive Interleukin-2 (IL-2). Objective response rates up to 52% have been seen in patients with metastatic melanoma. Efforts to improve TIL therapy include better selection and expansion of tumor-reactive lymphocytes, optimization of IL-2 or other T cell activating cytokine dosing, and, potentially, genetic manipulation of the immune cell product. Here we describe methods involved in the collection, expansion, and treatment with TIL for patients with metastatic melanoma.