Processes for production of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and uses of same in immunotherapy
The present invention provides improved and/or shortened methods for expanding TILs and producing therapeutic populations of TILs, including novel methods for expanding TIL populations in a closed system that lead to improved efficacy, improved phenotype, and increased metabolic health of the TILs in a shorter time period, while allowing for reduced microbial contamination as well as decreased costs. Such TILs find use in therapeutic treatment regimens.
1. A method for expanding tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) into a therapeutic population of TILs, the method comprising:
(a) obtaining a first population of TILs from a tumor resected from a subject by processing a tumor sample obtained from the subject into multiple tumor fragments;
(b) adding the tumor fragments into a closed system;
(c) performing a first expansion by culturing the first population of TILs in a cell culture medium comprising IL-2 and OKT-3, to produce a second population of TILs, wherein the first expansion is performed in a closed container providing a first gas-permeable surface area, wherein the first expansion is performed for about 3-11 days to obtain the second population of TILs, and wherein the transition from step (b) to step (c) occurs without opening the system;
(d) performing a second expansion by supplementing the cell culture medium of the second population of TILs with additional IL-2, OKT-3, and antigen presenting cells (APCs), to produce a third population of TILs, wherein the second expansion is performed for about 7-11 days to obtain the third population of TILs, wherein the second expansion is performed in a closed container providing a second gas-permeable surface area, and wherein the transition from step (c) to step (d) occurs without opening the system;
(e) harvesting the therapeutic population of TILs obtained from step (d), wherein the transition from step (d) to step (e) occurs without opening the system;
(f) transferring the harvested TIL population from step (e) to an infusion bag, wherein the transfer from step (e) to (f) occurs without opening the system; and
(g) cryopreserving the infusion bag comprising the harvested TIL population from step (f) using a cryopreservation process.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the medium in the first expansion and/or the second expansion is free of human serum.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the therapeutic population of TILs harvested in step (e) comprises sufficient TILs for use in administering a therapeutically effective dosage to a subject.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the therapeutically effective dosage comprises from about 1×10 9 to about 9×10 10 TILs.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the APCs comprise peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third population of TILs harvested in step (e) exhibits an increased subpopulation of CD8+ cells relative to the first and/or second population of TILs.
7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the PBMCs are supplemented at a ratio of about 1:25 TIL:PBMCs.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the third population of TILs in step (d) provides for increased efficacy, increased interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production, increased Granzyme B production, increased CD107a expression, increased telomere length, increased polyclonality, increased average IP-10, and/or increased average MCP-1 when administered to the subject.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first expansion in step (c) and the second expansion in step (d) are each individually performed within a period of 11 days.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (f) are performed in about 10 days to about 22 days.
11. The method according to claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (f) are performed in about 15 days to about 22 days.
12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein steps (a) through (f) are performed in about 20 days to about 22 days.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second population of TILs is at least 50-fold greater in number than the first population of TILs.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second population of TILs is at least 100-fold greater in number than the first population of TILs.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third population of TILs is at least 50-fold greater in number than the second population of TILs.
16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the third population of TILs is at least 100-fold greater in number than the second population of TILs.
17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the first expansion in step (c) further comprises IL-15.
18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the first expansion in step (c) further comprises IL-21.
19. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the second expansion in step (d) further comprises IL-15.
20. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the second expansion in step (d) further comprises IL-21.
21. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the first expansion in step (c) further comprises a 4-1BB agonist.
22. The method according to claim 21 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is selected from the group consisting of urelumab, utomilumab, EU-101, and biosimilars thereof.
23. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is urelumab.
24. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is utomilumab.
25. The method according to claim 22 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is EU-101.
26. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cell culture medium used in the second expansion in step (d) further comprises a 4-1BB agonist.
27. The method according to claim 26 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is selected from the group consisting of urelumab, utomilumab, EU-101, and biosimilars thereof.
28. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is urelumab.
29. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is utomilumab.
30. The method according to claim 27 , wherein the 4-1BB agonist is EU-101.