Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs)

Definition

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are a type of immune cells that have migrated into a tumor and can recognize and target cancer cells. They play a crucial role in the body's immune response against cancer, making them an important factor in both transplantation and cancer immunology.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. TILs are a type of T lymphocyte that have infiltrated and accumulated within a solid tumor.
2. The presence and activity of TILs in a tumor is associated with better prognosis and response to immunotherapy.
3. TILs can recognize and target specific tumor antigens, making them a key component of the body's anti-tumor immune response.
4. Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy involves isolating, expanding, and re-infusing a patient's own TILs to enhance their anti-tumor immune response.
5. The composition and functional status of TILs within a tumor can be used as a biomarker to predict patient response to immunotherapy.

Review Questions

• Explain the role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in the context of cancer immunology.
  • Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play a crucial role in the body's immune response against cancer. These T cells have the ability to recognize and target specific tumor antigens, allowing them to directly kill cancer cells. The presence and activity of TILs within a solid tumor is associated with better prognosis and improved response to immunotherapy. Strategies to enhance the anti-tumor activity of TILs, such as adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy, are an important focus in cancer immunology research.
• Describe how the composition and functional status of TILs can be used as a biomarker in cancer immunotherapy.
  • The composition and functional status of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) can provide valuable information as a biomarker to predict patient response to cancer immunotherapy. The abundance, phenotype, and activation state of TILs within a tumor can reflect the strength of the patient's anti-tumor immune response. Evaluating the TIL population can help identify patients who are more likely to benefit from immunotherapy, as those with a higher proportion of cytotoxic, functional TILs are generally more responsive. Additionally, monitoring changes in the TIL profile during treatment can provide insights into the effectiveness of the immunotherapy and guide treatment decisions.
• Analyze the potential of adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy using a patient's own TILs as a strategy in cancer immunology.
  • Adoptive cell transfer (ACT) therapy, which involves isolating, expanding, and re-infusing a patient's own tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), is a promising strategy in cancer immunology. By harnessing the patient's own TILs, which have the ability to recognize and target specific tumor antigens, ACT therapy aims to enhance the anti-tumor immune response. The ex vivo expansion and selection of TILs with the highest cytotoxic potential allows for the infusion of a potent, tumor-specific T cell population that can more effectively eliminate cancer cells. ACT therapy has shown encouraging results in clinical trials, particularly for melanoma and other solid tumors, making it a valuable approach in the field of cancer immunology and personalized cancer treatment.

Related terms

Cytotoxic T Cells: A type of T lymphocyte that can directly kill target cells, such as cancer cells or cells infected with viruses.

Immunotherapy: A type of cancer treatment that uses the body's own immune system to fight cancer.

Checkpoint Inhibitors: Drugs that block immune checkpoint proteins, allowing T cells to better recognize and attack cancer cells.