Dr. Steven Rosenberg on the Curative Potential of Adoptive Cell Therapy

Steven A. Rosenberg, MD, PhD, chief, Surgery Branch, senior investigator, head, Tumor Immunology Section, National Cancer Institute, explains advancements in adoptive cell therapy for the treatment of melanoma.

Immunotherapies such as ipilimumab, interleukin 2 (IL-2), anti—PD-L1 agents, and anti-CD40 antibodies, have, at their basis, the reactivity against individual unique somatic mutations that can occur in cancer, says Rosenberg. This presents a daunting problem, as it requires a personalized medicine approach, he says.

Unique sematic T-cell mutations can be recognized in patients, says Rosenburg. Large amounts of these T-cells can then be grown and then be injected back into patients.

In a recent trial looking at this treatment method, 24% of patients had complete regressions of all metastatic disease. Of the 194 patients that have been treated with tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in patients with melanoma, the overall response rate is over 50%, with 42 patients experiencing complete regressions, says Rosenberg.