Discover a Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment: Is TIL Therapy Right for You?
WHAT IS TIL THERAPY
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​​Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy is an innovative cancer treatment that harnesses your body’s immune system to combat cancer. This advanced cancer immunotherapy involves extracting TILs, special white blood cells, from your tumor. These cells naturally attack cancer cells but often need a boost to be effective. In TIL therapy, doctors grow millions of these cells in a laboratory. Once expanded, the TILs are infused back into your body to enhance your immune response against the cancer. This personalized cancer treatment has shown promising results, especially in patients with melanoma and other types of cancers.
By utilizing personalized cancer therapy, TIL Therapy provides a promising option for patients, especially those with advanced cancers resistant to traditional treatments.
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TIL THERAPY VIDEO
WHAT IS IMMUNOTHERAPY
Immunotherapy is a type of medical treatment that helps the body’s own immune system to fight off disease. It is based on the fundamentals of science, such as recognizing how the body’s natural defenses can be used to treat and prevent illnesses. Immunotherapy can be used to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. It works by stimulating the body’s immune system to recognize and attack certain cells, while leaving healthy cells unharmed. This is achieved through the use of drugs, vaccines, and other therapeutic interventions. Immunotherapy is an important part of modern medicine and can be used to treat several conditions.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
TIL therapy is a type of immunotherapy that uses the patient’s own immune cells to fight cancer, while surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and targeted therapy are mainly aimed at directly killing or shrinking the tumor. TIL therapy has some advantages over other treatments, such as:
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It can target multiple antigens on the cancer cells, making it less likely for the tumor to escape or develop resistance
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It can induce long-lasting immune memory and protection against tumor recurrence
WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES
However, TIL therapy also has some limitations and challenges, such as:
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It involves a complex and lengthy process of isolating, expanding, and infusing TILs, which may take several weeks and require specialized facilities and expertise12.
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TIL therapy is a highly individualized and labor-intensive treatment that faces several challenges for scaling up and commercializing, such as:
WHITE BLOOD CELLS
White blood cells are a type of immune cells that help the body fight off infections or eliminate diseased cells. There are several types of white blood cells, such as neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Each type of white blood cell has a different function and role in the immune system¹.
White blood cells can fight cancer in different ways, such as:
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Recognizing and killing cancer cells directly, by using receptors that bind to specific antigens on the cancer cells or by releasing toxic substances that damage the cancer cells
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Producing antibodies that mark the cancer cells for destruction by other immune cells or by activating the complement system.
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Secreting cytokines that stimulate or regulate the activity of other immune cells or affect the growth or survival of the cancer cells
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Modulating the tumor microenvironment, which is the surrounding tissue and cells that support or inhibit the tumor growth and spread.
However, white blood cells can also be affected by cancer in different ways, such as:
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Being transformed into cancerous cells themselves, such as in leukemia or lymphoma, which are cancers of the blood and lymphatic system.
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Being reduced in number or function by cancer or cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy or radiation, which can impair the bone marrow where white blood cells are produced or damage the white blood cells directly.
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Being suppressed or deceived by cancer cells or tumor microenvironment, which can produce signals or substances that inhibit or evade the immune response or induce immune tolerance.
Therefore, white blood cells play a crucial role in defending against and being affected by cancer. Monitoring the number and type of white blood cells in the blood can help diagnose and evaluate some cancers and their treatments. Modifying or enhancing the white blood cells can also be a strategy for immunotherapy, which is a type of treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer¹²
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TIL History
Discovery & Early Trials
Scientists found that immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) could be taken from tumors, grown in the lab, and reinfused to attack cancer.
Larger Studies & Durable Responses
Clinical studies showed TIL therapy could shrink tumors and produce long-lasting responses for some melanoma patients.
FDA Approval (Lifileucel / Amtagvi)
The FDA approved lifileucel (Amtagvi), the first TIL product for unresectable or metastatic melanoma after prior PD‑1 therapy.
Technique Refinement
Labs improved TIL growth methods (using IL‑2 and better culture techniques), increasing cell yield and effectiveness.
First Phase III Randomized Trial
The M14TIL phase III study showed TIL therapy improved progression-free survival compared to standard treatment in advanced melanoma.
Now — Expansion & Ongoing Research
Researchers are testing TIL therapy in more solid tumors and combining it with checkpoint inhibitors to boost outcomes.
TREATMENT WITH TIL
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The patient undergoes a surgical biopsy or resection of the tumor to obtain tumor tissue that contains tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs).- T
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The tumor tissue is sent to a specialized laboratory, where the TILs are isolated and tested for their ability to recognize and kill the patient's tumor cells.
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The selected TILs are then stimulated and expanded in vitro with interleukin-2 (IL-2), a protein that promotes rapid TIL growth. This process can take several weeks and result in billions of TILs.
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The patient receives a short course of chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy, to deplete their existing immune cells and make room for the new TILs. This also reduces the immune suppression caused by the tumor and enhances the effectiveness of the TILs.
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The patient receives the TIL infusion through a vein, along with high-dose IL-2 to support the survival and function of the TILs. The TILs then travel to the tumor site and begin to attack the tumor cells.
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The patient is monitored for side effects and response to the treatment. The patient may receive additional treatments or supportive care as needed.
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TIL TREATMENT OF SOLID TUMORS
​​TIL therapy has shown promise in treating various types of solid tumors, including melanoma, cervical cancer, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Among these, its most successful and advanced application has been in metastatic melanoma. In a phase II clinical trial conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), TIL therapy achieved an impressive overall response rate (ORR) of 56%, with a complete response (CR) rate of 24%, meaning that nearly one-quarter of patients experienced complete tumor regression. A separate clinical trial in metastatic melanoma patients treated with TILs combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors reported an even higher ORR of 72%, with CRs in 35% of patients. These findings highlight the remarkable potential of TIL therapy in specific solid tumors.
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For other cancers, the research is still evolving. Early clinical trials in cervical cancer have shown that approximately 44% of patients experienced significant tumor shrinkage, with some maintaining these results for months or even years after treatment. In head and neck cancers, preliminary trials using TIL therapy in combination with checkpoint inhibitors have shown tumor shrinkage rates between 30% and 40%, although further studies are needed to confirm these outcomes. Research into ovarian and colorectal cancers is still in its early stages, but combining TIL therapy with other immune-boosting drugs is showing promise for improving effectiveness.
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However, treating solid tumors with TIL therapy presents unique challenges compared to blood cancers. Solid tumors create a highly immunosuppressive microenvironment, making it difficult for immune cells like TILs to infiltrate and remain active. Tumors often produce proteins that suppress T-cell activity or recruit regulatory cells that dampen immune responses. Additionally, physical barriers, such as dense tumor stroma, can limit the penetration of TILs into the tumor core. Another challenge is identifying the right tumor antigens for effective TIL activation, as solid tumors are highly heterogeneous and may evolve to evade immune detection.
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Despite these obstacles, advancements in TIL manufacturing, combination therapies, and understanding of tumor biology are helping to overcome these barriers. Strategies like combining TIL therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1 or anti-CTLA-4 drugs, are being tested to enhance the therapy's efficacy in solid tumors. Additionally, improvements in TIL expansion methods are making it possible to produce more potent and specific TIL populations. While further research and trials are needed, these developments point to a future in which TIL therapy could become a viable treatment option for a broader range of solid tumors.
GET IN TOUCH
If you or a loved one are exploring TIL Therapy and want to learn more, we’re here to help. Use the form below to ask questions, request more information, or understand whether Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) Therapy may be a treatment option worth discussing with your care team. While we do not provide medical advice, we aim to share clear, reliable information to help you make informed decisions about emerging cancer treatments.