Intratumoral adoptive immunotherapy with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in a melanoma patient leading to regression of local tumor mass. A case report
Möller, P.; Wittig, B.; Schadendorf, D.
Anticancer Research 18(2b): 1237-1241
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 9615794 Document Number: 488882
We describe a 52-year old man with a confined massive subcutaneous and intramuscular tumor metastasis on his back. He was treated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) which were gained from the tumor of his back 3 months previously. Between 2.5 X 107 and 2 X 108 TIL were administered five times at 2-week-intervals on day 2 in combination with a continuous subcutaneous infusion of interleukin (IL)-2 (1.8 X 106 IE/24/hours) over 3 days and a single intratumoral injection of a low dose of interferon(IFN)-alpha (1 X 106 IE) on day 1. There were no severe side effects. Immunotherapy led to a consistent regression of the tumor mass. After 3 months, treatment was discontinued due to the development of intracranial metastases. In parallel, due to an erythematous induration at the infusion site, it became increasingly difficult to infuse IL-2 subcutaneously. Additionally, high titers of anti-IL2-antibodies were detected in serum, Following cessation of the immunotherapy and brain irradiation the patient's clinical course has remained stable over the past 5 months, suggesting that small amounts of TIL with a low-dosed IL-2 may be helpful in the treatment of local tumor masses.