Feb 2024: Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy treatment is a potential method that utilizes the body’s immune system to fight solid tumors. This therapeutic area in China is advancing rapidly because of the nation’s increasing investment in cell therapy and gene editing businesses, despite being relatively young. TIL therapy in China encounters problems such as inadequate infrastructure, the absence of established protocols, and an insufficient understanding of optimal patient selection and treatment combinations. The emergence of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell treatment in China has fostered a favorable environment for the advancement of TIL therapy, promoting cooperation among institutions and private firms.
Progress and Uses
Dr. Steven Rosenberg successfully treated mouse malignancies with autologous TILs in the late 1980s, when he first developed TIL therapy. Since then, TIL therapy has advanced substantially, showing great effectiveness in specific solid tumors, especially melanoma, cervical cancer, and colorectal cancer.
You may like to read: CAR T-Cell Therapy in China
Clinical Trials and Progress
Grit Biotechnology, headquartered in Shanghai, secured $60 million in Series B funding to advance the development of its TIL candidates, with a primary emphasis on melanoma, cervical, and lung cancer. These efforts are in line with worldwide patterns in TIL therapy, which is more frequently incorporating combination treatments with other immunotherapies, like immune checkpoint blocking drugs.
Recent studies have emphasized that the composition and location of TILs within tumors are crucial factors affecting prognosis and treatment results. Comprehending the intricate relationships between TILs and the tumor microenvironment is crucial for enhancing TIL therapy tailored to specific tumor types and refining patient categorization.
Future Plans
Several major factors need attention to fully utilize the potential of TIL treatment in China.
Standardization: Standardization involves creating consistent protocols for TIL isolation, growth, and delivery to allow for easier comparison between clinical studies and enhance the understanding of trial outcomes.
Patient Selection: Developing strong biomarker panels to reliably select patients who would benefit from TIL therapy is crucial for optimal resource allocation and maximizing treatment effectiveness.
Collaboration: Encouraging collaboration among academic institutes, hospitals, and industrial partners will promote innovation and speed up the translation of innovative TIL therapy into clinical practice.
Education: Offering customized training programs and educational resources for healthcare professionals engaged in TIL therapy will enhance best practices and increase awareness of the current advancements in the area.
You may like to read: CAR T Cell therapy for multiple myeloma in China
Increased focus on research and education in China will support the advancement of TIL therapy for solid tumors by fostering innovation and the creation of safe and efficient treatments.
What is the current state of tumor infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in China?
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy is still at an advanced stage in China. According to recent rumors, the US Food and Drug Administration may provide approval to employ TIL treatment to treat some cancers. It has great promise for treating solid cancers. Using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells for treatment has sped up the growth of TIL therapy in China, making it easier for companies that work in cell therapy and gene editing to do well.
Key characteristics of TIL treatment in China are:
• Limited infrastructure and defined protocols
• Focus on melanoma, cervical, and colorectal cancer
• Collaboration with international organizations and private companies
• Education programs for medical professionals
While TIL therapy has demonstrated extraordinary success in specific tumor types, its implementation remains difficult due to factors such as low TIL yields, poor TIL persistence after infusion, and challenges in developing consistent protocols.
Future opportunities for TIL treatment in China include:
• Standardized TIL isolation, expansion, and administration techniques
• Improved patient selection and treatment combinations
• Improved collaboration among academics, hospitals, and industry partners
• Expanded educational resources for healthcare providers
These steps aim to increase the use of TIL therapy in China, ultimately leading to safer and more effective solid tumor therapies.
What are the most common types of cancer treated with TIL therapy?
The most common types of cancer treated with tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy are:
Melanoma: TIL treatment is effective in treating melanoma, a kind of skin cancer.
Cervical cancer: TIL therapy has shown promising outcomes in cervical cancer patients, resulting in tumor reduction and increased survival rates.
Colorectal cancer: TIL treatment has shown preliminary success in colorectal cancer patients, suggesting potential for this kind of cancer.
While TIL therapy is still in its early phases in China, continuing research and clinical studies are investigating its application in many solid tumors, demonstrating its adaptability and promise for broader use in the future.
Cost of TIL therapy in China
TIL therapy is in trial stages at present, and the overall cost of TIL therapy in China may range between $ 60,000 and $125,000 USD. CAR T Cell therapy cost in China is between $45,000 and $80,000 USD. The cost of TIL therapy may vary depending on the specific treatment plan, the hospital, and other factors. It is recommended to consult with a healthcare provider or hospital in China for more information on the cost of TIL therapy.
