TIL'ing Immunotherapy

Although human cancers express antigens recognized by the immune system, immune responses don't always control tumor growth; tumor cells may adapt to avoid immune surveillance.

Although melanoma is one of the few spontaneously regressing solid tumors, tumor-specific T cells are often suppressed through inhibitory signals between lymphocyte and melanoma cell. The co-inhibitory molecule B7-H1 is often overexpressed on tumor cells. It impairs T-cell responses through binding of its co-inhibitory receptor PD-1, which is highly expressed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Investigators examined B7-H1 expression in melanocytic tumors to investigate a link between native, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and B7-H1 levels.

Of 150 lesions, 57 (38%) were B7-H1⁺. Only a single case of metastatic melanoma showed broad B7-H1 expression unassociated with TILs, and 3 cases (1 primary; 2 metastases) showed mixed patterns. Eva…

Reviewing Author

Hensin Tsao, MD, PhD

Disclosures

Consultant / advisory board Lubax; WorldCare Clinical

EquityLubax

Grant / Research support NIH; Department of Defense; American Skin Association; Piramal

Editorial boardsBritish Journal of Dermatology; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology; Journal of Investigative Dermatology

Leadership positions in professional societies American Academy of Dermatology (Chair, Skin Cancer and Melanoma Committee); American Board of Dermatology (Director)