Scientists at Sechenov University are developing cell-based drugs to fight solid tumors, including melanoma, based on TIL (Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte) therapy—a form of personalized immunotherapy. This was reported to GxP News by the university’s press service.
Unlike traditional treatment methods, TIL therapy mobilizes the patient’s own immune system to fight the malignant neoplasm. For this, special immune cells—T-lymphocytes—are isolated from the removed tumor, the most active ones are selected, expanded, and returned to the body via intravenous infusion. This approach is selective and ensures targeted impact on the tumor.
“The T-lymphocytes we isolate from the tumor carry many ‘arrows’ for different targets. They have already inhabited the tumor, ‘studied’ it, and tried to fight it, but there simply weren’t enough of them. By returning these cells to the body in the required quantity, we can enhance the patient’s natural anti-tumor defense,” said professor Marina Sekacheva, Director of the Institute of Personalized Oncology at Sechenov University.
As clarified by the press service, this summer scientists expect to begin testing the first Russian cell-based drug for melanoma treatment on laboratory animals and aim to complete these tests by early 2027. Following that, under the hospital exemption pathway, the therapy could become available for the first melanoma patients.
In the future, the technology is planned to be adapted for the treatment of bladder cancer, lung cancer, and other oncological diseases.
