SLN-derived TILs

SLN-derived TILs (SLN-TILs) are a type of adoptive cell therapy that utilizes tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) isolated from sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). These cells are hypothesized to be a physiologically relevant reservoir of tumor-primed T cells, exhibiting enhanced therapeutic features compared to TILs derived from non-sentinel lymph nodes or the tumor itself. In preclinical mouse models of HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), SLN-TILs demonstrated a favorable activation/exhaustion balance, characterized by increased CD137 expression and IFN-γ release, and reduced PD-1 and TIM-3 expression. Adoptive transfer of SLN-TILs resulted in robust tumor regression and improved survival, with further enhancement observed when combined with tumor-directed radiation. The research was conducted at the University of California San Diego.

Other names

SLN-TILs