autologous tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes

Autologous tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are an adoptive cell therapy being developed by the Fundacio Institut D'Investigacio Biomedica De Bellvitge (IDIBELL) for the treatment of refractory germ cell tumors. The therapeutic process involves the surgical resection of a patient's tumor to isolate naturally occurring T cells that have infiltrated the tumor tissue. These lymphocytes are then expanded ex vivo to large quantities using high-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2). Once a sufficient cell dose is achieved, the patient undergoes lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by the infusion of the expanded TILs. These cells are capable of recognizing a diverse array of tumor-specific neoantigens via their endogenous T-cell receptors (TCRs), leading to targeted destruction of malignant cells. This approach is specifically being investigated for patients with germ cell tumors that have become resistant to standard salvage chemotherapy regimens.

Other names

TILsAutologous TIL therapyTumor-infiltrating lymphocytes