Tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy for patients with advanced-stage melanoma

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2024 Mar;21(3):173-184. doi: 10.1038/s41571-023-00848-w. Epub 2024 Jan 8.

Abstract

Immunotherapy with immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors have revolutionized the treatment of melanoma over the past decade. Despite these breakthroughs, the 5-year survival rate of patients with advanced-stage melanoma is at most 50%, emphasizing the need for additional therapeutic strategies. Adoptive cell therapy with tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a therapeutic modality that has, in the past few years, demonstrated long-term clinical benefit in phase II/III trials involving patients with advanced-stage melanoma, including those with disease progression on ICIs and/or BRAF/MEK inhibitors. In this Review, we summarize the current status of TIL therapies for patients with advanced-stage melanoma, including potential upcoming marketing authorization, the characteristics of TIL therapy products, as well as future strategies that are expected to increase the efficacy of this promising cellular immunotherapy.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating
  • Melanoma* / therapy
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf

Substances

  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases