Core Needle Biopsies as an Alternative Source for Ex Vivo Expanded TIL for Adoptive Cell Therapy in Triple-Negative...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Surgical Oncology

Background:

• Adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) shows promise for treating metastatic cancers.
• Traditionally, TILs are expanded from surgically resected tumors.
• Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) presents a less invasive alternative for tissue acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of generating TILs from primary triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) using CNB.
• To compare TILs derived from CNB with those from surgical specimens.
• To assess the comparability of TIL expansion, phenotype, and function between the two methods.

Main Methods:

• Seven primary TNBC tumors were sampled using ultrasound-guided CNB.
• Six primary TNBC tumors were obtained via surgical resection.
• TILs from both sources were expanded ex vivo.
• Phenotype, cytokine secretion ( PMA-ionomycin stimulation), T cell Receptor clonality, and diversity were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Comparable TIL expansion was achieved from both CNB and surgical specimens.
• Phenotypic profiles and cytokine secretion post-stimulation were similar between CNB-derived and surgery-derived TILs.
• T cell Receptor clonality and diversity remained comparable throughout TIL culture for both groups.

Conclusions:

• Ultrasound-guided CNB is a safe and feasible method for obtaining tumor tissue for TIL generation in TNBC patients.
• CNB provides a viable alternative to surgery, potentially enabling TIL therapy for a broader patient population.
• This approach allows for TIL expansion from multiple lesions and patients unsuitable for surgery.