Functional TILs From Human Renal Cell Carcinoma

By Vania Baldan, Richard Griffiths, Robert E. Hawkins, and David E. Gilham

Adoptive transfer of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is a promising new way to treat both malignant melanoma and renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Right now, it is highly desirable to establish reliable methods enabling consistent generation of tumor-specific TILs from RCC. Tumor samples obtained from patients with renal carcinoma were utilized to compare two methods for the dissociation of renal tumor tissue to obtain TILs: the novel, combined mechanical/enzymatic, automated 3-hour process involving the gentleMACS™ Dissociator versus an established overnight digestion protocol. The results show which method preserves cell surface epitopes more effectively, produces the highest number of TILs, and shows more pronounced IFN-γ secretion.