Lifileucel, an Autologous Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte Monotherapy, in Patients with Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Resistant to Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Cancer Discov. 2024 Aug 2;14(8):1389-1402. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-1334.

Abstract

In this phase 2 multicenter study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of lifileucel (LN-145), an autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte cell therapy, in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC) who had received prior immunotherapy and progressed on their most recent therapy. The median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-6). Lifileucel was successfully manufactured using tumor tissue from different anatomic sites, predominantly lung. The objective response rate was 21.4% (6/28). Responses occurred in tumors with profiles typically resistant to immunotherapy, such as PD-L1-negative, low tumor mutational burden, and STK11 mutation. Two responses were ongoing at the time of data cutoff, including one complete metabolic response in a PD-L1-negative tumor. Adverse events were generally as expected and manageable. Two patients died of treatment-emergent adverse events: cardiac failure and multiple organ failure. Lifileucel is a potential treatment option for patients with mNSCLC refractory to prior therapy. Significance: Autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy lifileucel was administered to 28 patients with heavily pretreated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). Responses were observed in patients with driver mutations, and various tumor mutational burdens and PD-L1 expression, potentially addressing an unmet medical need in patients with mNSCLC refractory to prior therapy. See related commentary by Lotze et al., p. 1366.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase II
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / drug therapy
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* / pathology
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors* / therapeutic use
  • Lung Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Lung Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating* / immunology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating* / transplantation
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
  • lifileucel