Have you ever thought that our body can fight cancer on its own? In fact, our body has an amazing defense army called the immune system. But sometimes, because the enemy called cancer is a little too fierce, it becomes difficult for our army to win the battle alone. At such times, we are going to talk about a treatment that gives our own army special training, increases its power, and sends it back into battle.
What is this TIL treatment?
Simply put, TIL therapy is a new type of immunotherapy for cancer. It works by helping your body's own immune system recognize and destroy cancer cells.
The hero of this treatment is a special type of cell called Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes , which we call TILs for short.
Think of it like soldiers (immune cells) patrolling our bodies. But these soldiers, called TILs, are even more special. They infiltrate the tumor itself, learn its weaknesses, and learn how to best destroy it. In other words, they're like special forces that go deep inside the enemy camp and spy on it.
But the problem is, our bodies cannot produce enough TIL cells to fight these deadly cancers.
That's where TIL therapy comes in. It involves artificially increasing your TIL cell count by billions. A surgeon removes a small piece of your tumor. Then they send it to a lab, isolate the TIL soldiers, and grow them until they number in the billions. Finally, this super army, made from your own cells, is reintroduced into your body.
What types of cancers does this treatment treat?
By 2024, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a TIL treatment called lifileucel (Amtagvi®) . It is specifically for melanoma, a type of skin cancer. That is, melanoma that cannot be cured with surgery alone, or that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic cancer). This treatment may be suitable for someone who does not respond to treatments usually given by oncologists.
In addition, doctors are researching the effectiveness of this TIL treatment for several other types of cancer, including:
- Breast cancer
- Cervical cancer
- Colon cancer
- Head and neck cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
How does the treatment process work?
This is not something that is done all at once. Although the main thing is to inject TIL cells, there are several steps that need to be done before that. Let's look at this entire process step by step.
| Steps | Description of what is happening |
|---|---|
| 1. Removing part of the cancerous tumor | A surgeon will surgically remove a small piece of your tumor, about the size of a grapefruit, and send it to the lab. You will be anesthetized, so you will not feel any pain during this time. |
| 2. Isolation and growth of TIL cells | In the lab, TIL cells are isolated from the tumor and grown to billions. This process usually takes about five weeks. Then, these cells are sent to the hospital where you will be treated. |
| 3. Giving chemotherapy | You will be admitted to the hospital and given chemotherapy for five to seven days. This is to prepare your body for the new TIL cells to arrive. |
| 4. Reintroduction of TIL cells | Now comes the important part. The grown TIL cells are injected into your body all at once, just like a saline solution. This takes about two hours. |
| 5. Giving Interleukin-2 | Finally, for three to five days, you'll be given a drug called interleukin-2 (IL-2). This is another type of immunotherapy. It works by "activating" those newly infused TIL cells and encouraging them to fight the cancer. |
You will need to stay in the hospital for a few days after treatment. During this time, the medical team will carefully monitor your body's response to the treatment. For the next few weeks, it is important to stay within easy reach of the hospital so that you can get treatment quickly if any side effects occur.
What are the benefits and risks of this treatment?
What are the advantages?
TIL therapy is a highly personalized , highly potent treatment. Because it uses your own cells, there is minimal damage to healthy cells. Therefore, the risk of side effects is also low.
Even more importantly, the results of this treatment are long-lasting . The TIL cells that are injected stay in your body for years, fighting cancer cells.
This treatment has given new hope to many melanoma patients who previously thought there was no cure. According to a 2023 study, four years after receiving TIL treatment, seven out of ten people had their disease controlled or cured.
Risks and side effects
As with any treatment, there are risks at every step of the process. Side effects are mainly caused by chemotherapy and IL-2 therapy. Side effects from TIL cell administration are very rare.
| Common side effects | |
|---|---|
| Diarrhea | Fatigue |
| Fever and chills | Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) |
| Low blood pressure | Nausea and vomiting |
| Skin rash | |
Very rarely, IL-2 treatment can cause a serious complication called capillary leak syndrome . But don't worry, your doctor will clearly discuss all these risks with you before starting treatment.
How long will it take for me to get back to normal?
You will start to feel better about two weeks after your last dose of IL-2. Since this treatment process involves many things, such as surgery and chemotherapy, it takes some time for the body to recover.
When do you need to see the doctor?
After treatment, if you develop signs of an infection (fever, body aches), or if you experience any unexpected, severe side effects, call your doctor immediately.
If you feel any changes or discomfort, don't hesitate to tell your doctor. Don't try to decide whether it's normal or not. It's safest to report it immediately.
If you have melanoma that has not responded to other treatments, TIL may be a good option for you. If your doctor recommends this treatment, ask any questions you have about it. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks. Your doctor is your best source of information.
Take-Home Message
- TIL therapy is a new and powerful treatment that uses your own immune cells to fight cancer.
- This involves growing billions of cells taken from a cancer tumor in a lab and then re-injecting them into the body.
- Currently, it is mainly approved for melanoma cancer that has not responded to other treatments, but it is also in the research phase for other cancers.
- This is a complex process consisting of several steps, including surgery, chemotherapy, and medication.
- At any time, discuss the benefits, disadvantages, and risks of this treatment openly with your doctor and make informed decisions.
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