marrow-infiltrating lymphocytes

Marrow-infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs) are autologous, antigen-experienced T cells isolated from the bone marrow, expanded ex vivo, and used as a novel form of adoptive cell therapy, primarily for the treatment of hematologic malignancies such as multiple myeloma. These cells, which include both CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes, possess heightened tumor specificity due to their origin within the tumor microenvironment of the bone marrow. Unlike peripheral blood lymphocytes or tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in solid tumors, MILs display unique immunologic properties including a memory phenotype, higher CD8:CD4 ratio, and greater persistence following infusion. MILs can be used unmodified or as a source of T cells for gene modification strategies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Their use is being explored in both hematologic and solid cancers, and they have shown anti-tumor activity in preclinical models and early-phase clinical trials[1][2][6][8].

Other names

MILs