TIL Therapy
TIL (tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte) therapy is a new highly personalized treatment that uses your body’s immune system to find and fight cancer. At the UK Markey Cancer Center, we are leading the way in the growing field of TIL therapy and other immunotherapies.
TIL therapy can slow or stop cancer from growing or even make tumors disappear. It is FDA-approved to treat advanced melanoma that has spread to other areas of the body or can’t be treated with surgery alone. TIL therapy also holds promise for other types of cancers.
WHAT IS
TIL THERAPY?
TIL therapy is a type of cell-based anti-cancer immunotherapy. We can use TIL therapy when other therapies have not worked. This immunotherapy takes your own naturally occurring immune cells and transforms them into a billion-strong army to fight cancer.
TILs are a type of immune cell called T cells (lymphocytes) that have already found and responded to the tumor. But the TILs are outnumbered by the cancer cells. Scientists can remove those TIL cells from the tumor, make many copies of them and send them back in to attack the cancer.
TIL therapy requires a hospital stay so we can monitor you for any complications or side effects. Although TIL therapy is usually a one-time treatment, it is possible to use it a second time.
Why choose Markey for TIL therapy?
Markey is Kentucky’s NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center. This designation from the National Cancer Institute is the highest honor earned by institutions redefining the future of cancer care through groundbreaking treatments and research.
Here’s what else sets Markey apart:
- Renowned providers: Our physicians are nationally and internationally known for their expertise in cellular therapy, stem cell transplants and other lifesaving cancer therapies.
- National recognition: Our cellular therapy program is accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT). This reflects our proven commitment to rigorous quality and patient safety standards.
- Standard-setting treatment: In 2018, Markey was among the first cancer programs in the nation to use CAR T-cell therapy, a similar type of immunotherapy. This level of experience matters when it comes to cancer treatment.
- Team approach to care: Your TIL treatment is led by experts in hematology and cellular therapy working together with melanoma experts to deliver exceptional team care. Your treatment team also includes surgeons, pharmacists, oncology nurses, pathologists, social workers and others. We work closely with your referring physician to ensure seamless communication and coordinate your care.
- Compassionate care: You are important to us and deserve our best. We respect your goals for your care and listen carefully to your concerns.
How does TIL therapy work?
At your first appointment, you’ll meet with our cell therapy team, including a surgeon and a medical oncologist. We will do a thorough evaluation and tests to see if TIL therapy is right for you.
Here’s how TIL therapy works:
- Surgery: The surgeon removes (or resects) a portion of the tumor and sends it to a special lab.
- TIL production: The lab removes some of the TILs from the tumor and uses those cells to grow billions more exact copies. This production process takes about 22 days.
- Chemotherapy: While you wait for the new TILs, you receive several days of chemotherapy IV infusions to prepare you for treatment. This treatment is called lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and it makes room in your body for the new TILs.
- TIL infusion: Once the new TILs are ready, we put them into your body through an IV infusion. Then the TILs can get to work.
- Medication: You also get five days of interleukin-2 (IL-2) infusions. This immunotherapy medication helps your body accept the TIL cells.
- Monitoring and recovery: You’ll stay in the hospital for at least 10 days. This lets us watch you for any complications and make sure you are handling the treatment well.
- Return to home: Before you leave the hospital, we ensure you are ready. We will give you information on how to care for yourself, medicines to take, warning signs to watch for and more.
- Follow-up care: You will return to the clinic for regular follow-up visits and scans to monitor your response.
What are the possible side effects of TIL therapy?
Most people experience only mild side effects from the TIL therapy itself. Side effects from the chemotherapy and IL-2 medication are more common. The most common side effects are:
- Diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Low blood pressure
- Rash
- Shortness of breath
TIL THERAPY
VS. CAR T-CELL THERAPY
TIL therapy and CAR T-cell therapy are both forms of immunotherapy that use a person’s own immune cells to fight cancer. Both are important and effective types of cancer immunotherapy that work in different ways.
TIL Therapy
- Approved to treat melanoma (and in development for other tumors)
- Cells collected from the tumor
- Uses naturally occurring cells
- Targets multiple types of protein already identified by the immune system
CAR T-cell Therapy
- Approved to treat blood cancers
- Cells collected from blood
- Uses engineered cells
- Targets one type of protein
Markey an appointment
Call 859-257-4488. Press Option 1, then Option 5 to schedule an appointment. Or request an appointment online.
