A Feasibility Study of Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Merkel Cell Carcinoma

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Investigational drug late phase More information Active drug More information High burden on patient More information

Trial Details

Sponsor: Karam Khaddour, MD, MS (other)

Phase: 2

Start date: Feb. 10, 2026

Planned enrollment: 14

Trial ID: NCT07288073
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More trial details at ClinicalTrials.gov More info

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Investigational Drug AI Analysis

chevron Show for: LN-145 (lifileucel)

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Goal: To assess feasibility of manufacturing and delivering autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy (lifileucel, LN-145) with lymphodepleting chemotherapy and IL-2, and to characterize safety and preliminary antitumor activity in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) that have progressed after prior immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Patients: Adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed CSCC or MCC (mixed histology allowed) with unresectable, recurrent, or metastatic disease and documented progression after prior anti–PD-1/anti–PD-L1 therapy (or recurrence within 6 months after adjuvant/neoadjuvant ICI). ECOG 0–2, adequate marrow/organ function, LVEF ≥45% (NYHA I–II), and adequate pulmonary function are required. Patients must have at least one resectable lesion suitable for TIL harvest (with at least one remaining measurable/evaluable lesion after harvest). Key exclusions include active uncontrolled infection, need for >10 mg/day prednisone equivalent, symptomatic untreated brain metastases, primary immunodeficiency, prior allogeneic organ or stem cell transplant, and recent live vaccination.

Design: Open-label, single-center, multi-cohort, non-randomized phase 2 feasibility study with two cohorts (CSCC and MCC). Patients undergo tumor harvest for centralized TIL manufacturing followed by inpatient-style lymphodepletion, TIL infusion, and IL-2, with imaging response assessments at approximately weeks 6 and 12 and long-term follow-up every 3 months for up to 3 years.

Treatments: Cohort A (CSCC) and Cohort B (MCC) receive nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide (days −5 and −4) and fludarabine (days −5 to −1), followed by a single infusion of autologous TIL product lifileucel (day 0) and subsequent high-dose IL-2 (aldesleukin) for up to 6 doses administered shortly after infusion (days 0–4 and day 14 per protocol schedule). Lifileucel (LN-145) is an autologous, ex vivo expanded TIL cell therapy generated from resected tumor; the intent is to reinfuse tumor-reactive T cells after lymphodepletion to enhance engraftment and antitumor activity, with IL-2 supporting post-infusion T-cell expansion. In advanced melanoma previously treated with checkpoint inhibitors, lifileucel has demonstrated an objective response rate of about 31% with durable responses in a substantial proportion; expected toxicities in TIL programs largely reflect lymphodepleting chemotherapy and IL-2 (e.g., severe cytopenias, febrile neutropenia, capillary leak/hypotension, and organ-function derangements), requiring close monitoring and supportive care.

Outcomes: Primary endpoints are feasibility measures: successful TIL production (manufactured product meeting a minimum cell yield threshold) and successful TIL administration (completion of lymphodepletion, full TIL infusion, and receipt of at least one IL-2 dose), along with incidence of grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events (CTCAE v5.0). Secondary efficacy endpoints include objective response rate by RECIST v1.1, progression-free survival, duration of response, and overall survival, with follow-up for up to 3 years.

Burden on patient: High. Participation requires a surgical tumor harvest, extensive pre-treatment screening (including cardiac and pulmonary testing and potentially bone marrow biopsy/aspirate), then receipt of multi-day lymphodepleting chemotherapy followed by TIL infusion and IL-2 that typically necessitate inpatient admission or prolonged monitored care due to predictable severe cytopenias and IL-2–related cardiopulmonary and hemodynamic toxicities. Imaging is mandated early (around weeks 6 and 12) and then ongoing long-term follow-up visits approximately every 3 months for up to 3 years, adding travel and time commitments beyond routine palliative care in this setting.

Last updated: Feb 2026

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Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

[email protected] / 617-632-6571

Status: Recruiting

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