Preparing for New Cellular Therapies: Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes

Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) are a type of immune cell that moves from a patient’s bloodstream into their tumor. TILs include T cells and B cells and are powerful weapons in battling cancer, as they are able to recognize and kill cancer cells. In cancer treatment, TILs are removed from a patient’s tumor, grown in large numbers in a laboratory, and injected back into the patient to help their immune system kill their cancer cells. Currently, TILs are an experimental cell therapy being developed for treating solid tumors. They have been observed to offer a strong prognostic benefit for tumor types that have so far respond poorly to immunotherapy.

ACCC has launched an education project to help members of the multidisciplinary cancer care team better understand TILs and their potential in cancer therapy. The project, which will assemble an expert task force and include a podcast and webinar, will provide general education about TIL therapy, how it works, and its potential to positively impact patient outcomes.

For more information on this project, please contact the ACCC Provider Education department.

[PODCAST] Ep 75: Developments in TIL Cell Therapy

Cellular immunotherapy researchers have long been focused on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These naturally occurring anti-cancer cells fight—from inside the tumor—against malignant cells. TIL Cell Therapy is currently being evaluated in clinical trials and encouraging study results have been presented and published.

In this episode, hear from two experts in cancer immunotherapy on the exciting potential of TIL Cell Therapy in melanoma and beyond, where cellular immunotherapy fits into the expanding range of cancer immunotherapies, and what community providers need to know.

Mark Faries, MD
Co-director, Melanoma Program and Head of Surgical Oncology
The Angeles Clinic & Research Institute
Los Angeles, CA

Sigrun Hallmeyer, MD
Medical Director, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Cancer Service Line Medical Director, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital Cancer Survivorship Program
Co-Director, Medical Research, Advocate AuroraHealth
Park Ridge, IL