NZ794058A - Remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and methods of preparing and using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

some embodiments, methods of delivering a therapeutically effective amount of an expanded number of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from tumor remnants to a patient in need thereof, for the treatment of a cancer, are disclosed.

Description

In some embodiments, methods of delivering a therapeutically effective amount of an expanded number of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes obtained from tumor remnants to a patient in need f, for the treatment of a cancer, are disclosed.

NZ 794058 REMNANT TUMOR INFILTRATING CYTES AND METHODS OF PREPARING AND USING THE SAME CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This international ation claims the benefit of ty to US. Provisional Application No. 62/423,750, filed November 17, 2016, and US. Provisional Application No. 62/460,441, filed ry 17, 2017, the entirety of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION Methods and itions for expansion of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes from tumor ts are disclosed in some embodiments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Treatment of bulky, refractory cancers using adoptive transfer of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represents a ul approach to therapy for patients with poor prognoses.

Gattinoni, el al., Nat. Rev. Immunol. 2006, 6, 383-393. Adoptive T cell therapy with autologous TILs provides up to 55% objective response rates and durable regression in >25% of patients with metastatic melanoma. A large number of TILs are required for successful immunotherapy, and a robust and reliable process is needed for commercialization. This has been a challenge to achieve because of technical, logistical, and regulatory issues with cell expansion. 1Lbased TIL expansion ed by a “rapid expansion s” (REP) has become a preferred method for TIL expansion because of its speed and efficiency. Dudley, el al., Science 2002, 298, 850- 54, Dudley, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2005, 23, 7, Dudley, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2008, 26, 5233-39, Riddell, el al., Science 1992, 257, 23 8-41, Dudley, el al., J. Immunolher. 2003, 26, . Processes for generating TILs from resected tumors include the step of morcellating the tumor into 1-3 mm3 fragments, and expanding TILs in the presence of interleukin 2 (IL-2) in the pre-rapid expansion protocol (pre-REP or initiation) step. During the pre-REP step, tumor- resident immune cells emigrate and erate, and these TILs are subjected to a second REP s, with irradiated peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) feeders, anti-CD3 antibody (OKT-3, muromonab), and IL-2, which greatly increases their numbers. To date, all TIL expansion processes discard residual tumor fragments following the pre-REP process.

Direct enzymatic digestion of resected tumors has been previously explored as an alternative to pre-REP, but has been reported to yield less TIL cultures, resulting in a decreased ability to obtain TILs than from pre-REP initiation processes with IL-2. Dudley, el al., J. lher. 2003, 26, 332-42. For this reason, digestion has not been further explored in the development of TILs as a therapy for .

TILs obtained from the pre-REP and REP processes have dominated the clinical studies of TILs to date, which have offered modest clinical responses, and the field remains challenging, ularly in the extension of TIL therapy from melanoma to other tumor types. Goff, el al., J.

Clin. Oncol. 2016, 34, 2389-97, Dudley, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2008, 26, 5233-39, Rosenberg, el al., Clin. Cancer Res. 2011, 17, 4550-57. Much focus has been placed on selection of TILs during ion to either select particular subsets (such as CD8+ T cells) or to target driver mutations such as a mutated ERBBZIP epitope or driver mutations in the KRAS oncogene.

Tran, el al., N. Engl. J. Med. 2016, 375, 2255-62, Tran, el al., Science 2014, 344, 641-45.

However, such ion approaches, even if they can be developed to show efficacy in larger clinical trials, add significantly to the duration, complexity, and cost of performing TIL therapy and limit the potential for widespread use of TIL therapy in different types of cancers. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop ses e of providing TILs with improved properties for use in cancer therapies.

The invention provides the unexpected finding that TILs with ed properties may be obtained from ses based on tumor remnant cells, and that such remnant TILs (rTILs) are phenotypically and functionally ct from normal emigrant TILs (eTILs). The use of rTILs and combinations of rTILs and eTILs in cancer immunotherapy es cant advantages over prior eTIL-based therapies.

SUMIVIARY OF THE INVENTION In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to e tumor remnants and nt TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium sing cell culture media, ated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, CTLA-4, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes ) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue ses tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor , (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, CTLA-4, and combinations thereof, and wherein the tumor tissue is selected from the group consisting of melanoma tumor tissue, head and neck tumor tissue, breast tumor tissue, renal tumor tissue, pancreatic tumor tissue, astoma tumor tissue, lung tumor tissue, ctal tumor tissue, sarcoma tumor tissue, triple negative breast tumor tissue, al tumor tissue, ovarian tumor tissue, and acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow or tumor tissue.

In an ment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas ble container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor ts and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell e media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker ve to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is ed from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, CTLA-4, and combinations thereof, and wherein the irradiated feeder cells comprise irradiated allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

WO 94167 In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating cytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor ts and emergent TlLs ), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express d levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein IL-2 is present in the second cell culture medium at an initial tration of about 3000 IU/mL and OKT-3 antibody is present in the second cell culture medium at an initial concentration of about 30 ng/mL.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor ts into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable ner to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is ed from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein at least one T cell exhaustion marker in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the rTILs is reduced by at least 10% relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell y, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating cytes , (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and eukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium sing cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an ed number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is a LAG3 marker in CD8+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor ating cytes (rTILs) for ve T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and nt TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and n the T cell tion marker is a TIM3 marker in CD8+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 3-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) ing tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to e tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor ts into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, ated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is a TIM3 marker in CD4+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold ve to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell y, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell e medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of t tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the TIM3 marker and the LAG3 marker in the rTILs are undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for ing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor ating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas ble container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs ), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express d levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, n the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations f, and wherein CD56+ expression in the rTILs is reduced by at least 3-fold relative to CD56+ expression in the eTlLs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, n the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell e medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest e, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to e an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein CD69+ expression in the rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold relative to CD69+ expression in the eTlLs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) ing tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating cytes , (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the digest mixture ses ibonuclease, collagenase, and onidase.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) ng the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and nt TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable ner to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations f, and wherein the first cell culture medium r comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing t tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell e media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to e an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), n the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium r comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, n the ent comprises delivering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to a patient, wherein the rTILs are prepared according a method sing the steps of: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) ng the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express d levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and WO 94167 wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method ng a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method sing: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium r ses a ne selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) ing tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to e tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell e medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an ed number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell e medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion n prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the t, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the t with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention es a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor ts into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor t cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 dy, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations thereof, and wherein the second cell e medium r comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) ng the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are aneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient, n the cancer is selected from the group consisting of melanoma, double-refractory melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, head and neck , renal cell carcinoma, acute myeloid ia, colorectal cancer, sarcoma, all cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and triple negative breast cancer.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor , (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs s reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations f, (g) ng the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTlLs to the patient, wherein the non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen comprises the steps of administration of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 60 mg/mZ/day for two days followed by administration of fludarabine at a dose of 25 mg/mZ/day for five days, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen ng on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) ing tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas ble container with a first cell culture medium and eukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a ity of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor ating lymphocytes wherein the rTILs s reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and ations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to WO 94167 administering the rTlLs to the patient; (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTlLs, and (i) treating the t with a high-dose IL-2 regimen ng on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient, wherein the high-dose IL-2 regimen comprises 600,000 or 0 IU/kg of aldesleukin, or a biosimilar or variant thereof, stered as a 15-minute bolus intravenous infusion every eight hours until tolerance.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor inf11trating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inf11trating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, ated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of t tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, and wherein the T cell tion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, CTLA-4, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor rating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor ating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue; (c) ng the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell e medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable ner to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, , and combinations thereof, and wherein the tumor tissue is selected from the group consisting of melanoma tumor tissue, head and neck tumor , breast tumor tissue, renal tumor tissue, pancreatic tumor tissue, glioblastoma tumor tissue, lung tumor tissue, colorectal tumor tissue, a tumor tissue, triple negative breast tumor tissue, cervical tumor tissue, ovarian tumor tissue, and acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow or tumor tissue.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express d levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, CTLA-4, and combinations thereof, and n the irradiated feeder cells se irradiated allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

In an ment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor inf11trating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method sing: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inf11trating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest e, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 dy, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor ating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group ting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein IL-2 is present in the second cell culture medium at an initial concentration of about 3000 IU/mL and OKT-3 antibody is present in the second cell culture medium at an initial concentration of about 30 ng/mL.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for ve T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and nt TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically ing the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an ed number of t tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein at least one T cell exhaustion marker in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells in the rTILs is reduced by at least 10% relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention es a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest e, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell e medium comprising cell culture media, ated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express d levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is a LAG3 marker in CD8+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an ment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to e tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell e medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is a TIM3 marker in CD8+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 3-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell e medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically ing the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations thereof, and wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is a TIM3 marker in CD4+ T cells, and wherein the LAG3 marker in the rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue ses tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor ts and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) ing the tumor t cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of t tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the TIM3 marker and the LAG3 marker in the rTILs are undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell y, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) ng the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor t cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 dy, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein CD56+ expression in the rTILs is reduced by at least 3-fold relative to CD56+ expression in the eTlLs.

In an embodiment, the invention es a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, n the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating cytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and eukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically ing the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas ble container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating cytes wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein CD69+ expression in the rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold relative to CD69+ expression in the eTlLs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs) for ve T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs ), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the digest mixture comprises deoxyribonuclease, collagenase, and onidase.

In an embodiment, the invention es a method for preparing remnant tumor ating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable ner to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), n the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group ting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations f, and wherein the first cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method for preparing remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) for adoptive T cell therapy, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the t, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating cytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas ble container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, n the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations f, and n the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and ations thereof.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of ng a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, wherein the treatment comprises delivering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to a patient, wherein the rTILs are prepared according a method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, n the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, WO 94167 (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture; and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell e medium comprising cell culture media, ated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and n the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, the ion includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the t, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor t cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to e an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTlLs to the patient; (h) administering a eutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient; and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention es a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor ts and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) ng the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell e media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an ed number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs s reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium r ses a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to stering the rTlLs to the patient; (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a eutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a e with the rTlLs, and (i) treating the patient with a ose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and eukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium r comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTlLs to the t; (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are aneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTlLs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of melanoma, double-refractory melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, renal cell carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, ctal cancer, sarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and triple negative breast cancer.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method ng a cancer in a t in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the t, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor , (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs s reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker ve to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium r ses a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, wherein the non-myeloablative lymphodepletion n comprises the steps of administration of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 60 mg/mZ/day for two days followed by administration of fludarabine at a dose of 25 mg/mZ/day for five days, (h) stering a therapeutically ive amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the t with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the ion includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable ner with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs), n the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations f, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine ed from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and combinations f, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) stering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a eutically effective amount of eTILs are aneously administered to the patient in a e with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient, wherein the high-dose IL-2 regimen comprises 600,000 or 720,000 IU/kg of aldesleukin, or a biosimilar or variant thereof, administered as a 15-minute bolus intravenous infusion every eight hours until tolerance.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a process for generating an expanded number of tumor remnant cells that include tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) from a patient for adoptive T cell therapy. In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises TILs. In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of fragmenting the tumor .

In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of treating the tumor tissue in a gas ble container with cell culture media and interleukin 2 (IL-2) and other T cell growth factors or agonistic antibodies to e tumor remnants and an expanded number of TILs. In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of ng the expanded number of TILs. In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells. In some embodiments, the process of the invention may include the step of treating the tumor remnant cells with cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (muromonab or OKT-3), and IL-2 to provide the ed number of tumor remnant cells. In some embodiments, the tumor remnant cells prepared according to the processes of the invention may include TILs that express reduced levels of at least one marker selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, PD-l, and combinations thereof. In some embodiments, the tumor tissue may be selected from the group consisting of melanoma tumor tissue, head and neck tumor tissue, breast tumor tissue, renal tumor tissue, pancreatic tumor , lung tumor tissue, and colorectal tumor tissue.

In an embodiment, the invention may include method of treating a tumor in a patient in need of such treatment. In some embodiments, the treatment may include delivering a therapeutically effective amount of an expanded number of tumor remnant cells to the patient, wherein the expanded number of tumor remnant cells may be prepared according to any s described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the invention, will be better tood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. illustrates an exemplary diagram of the tumor digestion solution preparation. illustrates an ary flow-through diagram of the tumor digestion ure.

In this example, two digestion methods are performed aneously and are seeded separately as a part of two distinct pre-REPs ed to compare the efficacy of each digestion method. illustrates ential phenotypic expression of key markers in eTILs and rTILs.

WO 94167 illustrates studies of eTIL and rTIL by 2-(N—(7-nitrobenzoxa-l,3-diazol yl)amino)deoxyglucose (2-NBDG) (A) and Mitotracker (B) to assess metabolic capacity prior to rapid expansion. shows the results of experiments wherein eTIL and rTIL were stimulated with CD3/CD28/4-1BB beads with brefeldin A overnight for CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. PMA and cin was added for 4-5 hours. Interferon-y was assessed by intracellular flow cytometric analysis (n=3). illustrates results showing that (A) rTIL expand and (B) remain phenotypically distinct from eTIL during rapid expansion. illustrates an exemplary process for treating a patient using rTILs of the illustrates an ary timeline of the process for treating a patient using rTILs of the ion. rates the diversity of the TCRvB repetoire (i.e., the diversity score) in eTIL and rTIL. illustrates the percent of shared CDR3s in eTIL and rTIL. illustrates cell proliferation analyses in triple negative breast carcinoma, colorectal carcinoma, lung carcinoma, renal carcinoma, and melanoma where eTIL from either the CD4+ or CD8+ population in all five tumors demonstrated an enhancement in the proliferative capacity upon co-culture with rTIL with anti-CD3 antibody as demonstrated by a shift (or dye dilution) in the Cell Trace dye, when compared to eTIL alone. The red ents the eTIL and the blue represents the eTIL when co-cultured with the rTIL. illustrates a heat map prepared from a Nanostring analysis, which shows that the gene expression profile for eTIL and rTIL is significantly different. illustrates a graph prepared from a Nanostring analysis, which shows that several genes are significantly upregulated or gulated in the rTIL as compared to the eTIL. illustrates a clonotype graph showing the top 50 shared CDR3s between eTIL and rTIL (for three TIL pairs) from n carcinoma. illustrates a ype graph showing the top 50 shared CDR3s n eTIL and rTIL (for three eTIL/rTIL pairs) from renal carcinoma. illustrates a clonotype graph showing the top 50 shared CDR3s between eTIL and rTIL (for three TIL pairs) from triple ve breast carcinoma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE G SEQ ID \O:l is the amino acid sequence of the heavy chain of muromonab.

SEQ ID \O:2 is the amino acid sequence of the light chain of muromonab.

SEQ ID \O:3 is the amino acid sequence of a recombinant human IL-2 protein.

SEQ ID \O:4 is the amino acid sequence of aldesleukin.

SEQ ID \O:5 is the amino acid sequence of a inant human IL-4 protein.

SEQ ID \O:6 is the amino acid sequence of a recombinant human IL-7 protein.

SEQ ID \O:7 is the amino acid sequence of a recombinant human IL-15 protein.

SEQ ID \O:8 is the amino acid sequence of a recombinant human IL-21 protein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

All patents and ations referred to herein are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

Definitions The terms “exhausted phenotype” and “exhaustion marker” refer to cell surface markers characteristic of T cell exhaustion in response to chronic T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation by antigen. T cells exhibiting an exhausted phenotype express inhibitory receptors, such as T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM3 or THVI-3), lymphocyte- activation gene 3 (LAG3 or LAG-3), T cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains (TIGIT), and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-l), and lack effector cytokine production and the ability to mount an effective immune response. Exhaustion in T cells is described in Yi, er al., Immunology 2010, 129, 474-81, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The terms “co-administration, 77 (L co-administering,77 (L administered in combination with,” “administering in combination with,” “simultaneous,” and “concurrent,” as used , encompass administration of two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients to a human subject so that both active pharmaceutical ingredients and/or their metabolites are present in the human t at the same time. Co-administration includes aneous administration in separate compositions, administration at different times in separate compositions, or administration in a ition in which two or more active pharmaceutical ingredients are present. Simultaneous administration in separate compositions and stration in a composition in which both agents are present is also encompassed in the s of the invention.

The term “in viva” refers to an event that takes place in a subject’s body.

The term “in vilro” refers to an event that takes places outside of a subject’s body. In vitro assays encompass cell-based assays in which cells alive or dead are employed and may also encompass a cell-free assay in which no intact cells are ed.

The term “antigen” refers to a substance that induces an immune response. In some embodiments, an antigen is a molecule capable of being bound by an dy or a TCR if presented by major histocompatibility compleX (MHC) molecules. The term “antigen”, as used herein, also encompasses T cell epitopes. An antigen is additionally capable of being recognized by the immune system. In some embodiments, an antigen is capable of inducing a humoral immune response or a cellular immune response leading to the activation of B lymphocytes and/or T lymphocytes. In some cases, this may require that the antigen contains or is linked to a Th cell epitope. An n can also have one or more epitopes (e.g., B- and T-epitopes). In some embodiments, an antigen will ably react, typically in a highly specific and selective manner, with its corresponding antibody or TCR and not with the multitude of other antibodies or TCRs which may be induced by other antigens.

The term “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount” refers to that amount of a nd or combination of compounds as bed herein that is sufficient to effect the intended application including, but not d to, disease treatment. A therapeutically effective amount may vary depending upon the intended application (in vitro or in vivo), or the human subject and disease condition being treated (e.g., the weight, age and gender of the subject), the severity of the e ion, the manner of administration, etc. which can readily be determined by one of ordinary skill in the art. The term also applies to a dose that will induce a particular response in target cells (e.g., the reduction of platelet adhesion and/or cell migration).

The specific dose will vary depending on the particular compounds chosen, the dosing n to be followed, whether the compound is stered in combination with other compounds, timing of administration, the tissue to which it is administered, and the physical delivery system in which the compound is carried. A therapeutically effective amount may be “an anti-tumor effective amount” and/or a “tumor-inhibiting effective amount,” which may be the precise amount of the compositions of the t invention to be administered can be determined by a physician with consideration of individual differences in age, weight, tumor size, extent of infection or metastasis, and condition of the patient ct). It can generally be stated that a pharmaceutical composition comprising the cytotoxic lymphocytes or rTILs described herein may be administered at a dosage of 104 to 1011 cells/kg body weight (e.g., 105 to 106, 105 to 1010, 105 to 10“, 106 to 1010, 106 to 1011,107 to 10“, 107 to 1010, 108 to 10“, 108 to 1010, 109 to 10“, or 109 to 1010 cells/kg body weight), ing all integer values within those ranges. Cytotoxic lymphocyte or rTIL itions may also be administered multiple times at these dosages. The cytotoxic cytes or rTILs can be administered by using infusion techniques that are commonly known in immunotherapy (see, e.g., Rosenberg et al., N. Eng. J. Med. 319: 1676, 1988). The optimal dosage and treatment regime for a particular patient can readily be determined by one skilled in the art of medicine by monitoring the patient for signs of disease and adjusting the treatment ingly.

A “therapeutic effect” as that term is used herein, encompasses a therapeutic benefit and/or a lactic benefit in a human subject. A prophylactic effect includes delaying or eliminating the appearance of a disease or condition, delaying or eliminating the onset of ms of a disease or condition, slowing, g, or reversing the progression of a disease or condition, or any combination thereof.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” or “pharmaceutically acceptable excipient” is intended to include any and all solvents, dispersion media, coatings, antibacterial and ngal agents, isotonic and absorption delaying agents, and inert ingredients. The use of such pharmaceutically acceptable rs or pharmaceutically acceptable excipients for active pharmaceutical ingredients is well known in the art. Except insofar as any conventional pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or pharmaceutically acceptable excipient is incompatible with the active pharmaceutical ingredient, its use in the therapeutic compositions of the invention is plated. Additional active pharmaceutical ients, such as other drugs, can also be incorporated into the described compositions and methods.

The terms “treatment”, “treating”, “treat”, and the like, refer to obtaining a desired cologic and/or physiologic effect. The effect may be prophylactic in terms of completely or partially preventing a disease or symptom f and/or may be therapeutic in terms of a partial or complete cure for a disease and/or adverse effect attributable to the disease. ment”, as used herein, covers any treatment of a disease in a mammal, particularly in a human, and es: (a) preventing the disease from occurring in a subject which may be predisposed to the disease but has not yet been diagnosed as having it, (b) inhibiting the disease, i.e., arresting its development or progression, and (c) relieving the disease, i.e., causing regression of the disease and/or relieving one or more disease symptoms. “Treatment” is also meant to ass delivery of an agent in order to provide for a pharmacologic effect, even in the absence of a disease or condition. For example, “treatment” encompasses delivery of a composition that can elicit an immune response or confer immunity in the absence of a disease condition, e.g., in the case of a vaccine.

The term “heterologous” when used with reference to ns of a nucleic acid or protein indicates that the nucleic acid or protein comprises two or more subsequences that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature. For ce, the nucleic acid is typically recombinantly produced, having two or more sequences from unrelated genes arranged to make a new functional nucleic acid, e.g., a promoter from one source and a coding region from another , or coding regions from different sources. Similarly, a heterologous protein indicates that the n comprises two or more subsequences that are not found in the same relationship to each other in nature (e.g., a fusion n).

The term “rapid expansion” means an increase in the number of antigen-specific TILs of at least about 3-fold (or 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, or 9-fold) over a period of a week, more preferably at least about 10-fold (or 20-, 30-, 40-, 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-, or 90-fold) over a period of a week, or most preferably at least about lOO-fold over a period of a week. A number of rapid expansion ols are outlined herein.

By “tumor infiltrating lymphocytes” or “TILs” herein is meant a population of cells originally obtained as white blood cells that have left the bloodstream of a t and migrated into a tumor. TILs include, but are not limited to, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells (lymphocytes), Th1 and Thl7 CD4+ T cells, natural killer cells, dendritic cells and M1 macrophages. TILs include both primary and secondary TILs. ry TILs” are those that are obtained from patient tissue samples as outlined herein imes referred to as “freshly harvested”), and “secondary TILs” are any TIL cell populations that have been expanded or proliferated as discussed herein, ing, but not limited to bulk TILs and expanded TILs (“REP TILs” or REP TILs”).

In certain embodiments, the term “Primary TILs” may e rTILs and mixtures of eTILs and rTILs.

By “population of cells” (including TILs) herein is meant a number of cells that share common traits. In general, populations lly range from l X 106 to l X 1010 in number, with different TIL populations comprising different numbers. For example, initial growth of primary TILs in the presence of IL-2 results in a population of bulk TILs of roughly l X 108 cells. REP expansion is lly done to provide populations of 1.5 X 109 to 1.5 X 1010 cells for on.

The terms “peripheral blood mononuclear cells” and “PBMCs” refers to a peripheral blood cell haVing a round nucleus, including lymphocytes (such as T cells, B cells, and NK cells) and monocytes. Preferably, the peripheral blood mononuclear cells are irradiated allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells. PBMCs are a type of antigen-presenting cell.

By “cryopreserved TILs” herein is meant that TILs, either primary, bulk, or expanded (REP TILs), are d and stored in the range of about -lSO°C to -60°C. General methods for cryopreservation are also described elsewhere herein. For clarity, “cryopreserved TILs” are distinguishable from frozen tissue samples which may be used as a source of primary TILs including rTILs.

By “thawed cryopreserved TILs” herein is meant a population of TILs (such as rTILs) that was preViously cryopreserved and then treated to return to room temperature or higher, ing but not limited to cell culture temperatures or temperatures wherein TILs may be administered to a patient.

The terms “sequence ty,77 (Lpercent identity,” and “sequence percent identity” in the context of two or more nucleic acids or polypeptides, refer to two or more sequences or subsequences that are the same or have a specified percentage of nucleotides or amino acid residues that are the same, when compared and aligned (introducing gaps, if necessary) for maximum correspondence, not considering any conservative amino acid substitutions as part of the sequence identity. The percent identity can be measured using sequence comparison re or algorithms or by visual inspection. Various algorithms and software are known in the art that can be used to obtain alignments of amino acid or nucleotide sequences. Suitable programs to determine percent sequence ty include for example the BLAST suite of programs available from the US. Government’ s National Center for Biotechnology Information BLAST web site. Comparisons between two sequences can be carried using either the BLASTN or BLASTP thm. BLASTN is used to compare nucleic acid sequences, while BLASTP is used to compare amino acid sequences. ALIGN, ALIGN—2 tech, South San Francisco, rnia) or MegAlign, available from DNASTAR, are additional publicly available software programs that can be used to align sequences. One skilled in the art can determine appropriate parameters for maximal alignment by particular alignment software. In certain embodiments, the default parameters of the alignment re are used.

The term “conservative amino acid tutions” means amino acid sequence modifications which do not abrogate the binding of the antibody to the antigen. Conservative amino acid substitutions e the substitution of an amino acid in one class by an amino acid of the same class, where a class is defined by common physicochemical amino acid side chain properties and high substitution frequencies in homologous proteins found in nature, as determined, for example, by a standard Dayhoff frequency exchange matrix or BLOSUIVI .

Six general classes of amino acid side chains have been categorized and include: Class I (Cys), Class II (Ser, Thr, Pro, Ala, Gly), Class III (Asn, Asp, Gln, Glu), Class IV (His, Arg, Lys), Class V (Ile, Leu, Val, Met), and Class VI (Phe, Tyr, Trp). For example, substitution of an Asp for another class III residue such as Asn, Gln, or Glu, is a conservative substitution. Thus, a predicted ential amino acid residue in a protein is preferably replaced with another amino acid residue from the same class. Methods of identifying amino acid conservative tutions which do not eliminate antigen g are well-known in the art (see, e.g., Brummell, er al., Biochemistry 1993, 32, 1180-1187, Kobayashi, et al., Protein Eng. 1999, 12, 879-884 (1999), and Burks, el al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94, 412-417).

“Pegylation” refers to a modified antibody or fusion protein, or a fragment thereof, that typically is reacted with polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as a reactive ester or aldehyde derivative of PEG, under conditions in which one or more PEG groups become attached to the antibody or antibody fragment. Pegylation may, for example, increase the biological (e.g., serum) half life of the antibody. Preferably, the pegylation is carried out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive PEG molecule (or an analogous reactive water- soluble r). As used herein, the term “polyethylene glycol” is intended to encompass any of the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize other proteins, such as mono (Cl-Clo) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-maleimide. The protein or dy to be ted may be an aglycosylated protein or antibody. Methods for pegylation are known in the art and can be applied to the antibodies of the invention, as described for example in European Patent Nos. EP 0154316 and EP 0401384 and US. Patent No. 778, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

The term “OKT-3” (also referred to herein as “OKT3”) refers to a monoclonal antibody or ilar or variant thereof, ing human, humanized, chimeric, or murine antibodies, directed t the CD3 receptor in the T cell antigen receptor of mature T cells, and includes cially-available forms such as OKT-3 (30 ng/mL, MACS GMP CD3 pure, Miltenyi Biotech, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) and muromonab or variants, vative amino acid substitutions, orms, or biosimilars thereof. The amino acid sequences of the heavy and light chains of muromonab are given in Table l (SEQ ID N011 and SEQ ID N012). A hybridoma capable of producing OKT-3 is deposited with the American Type Culture tion and assigned the ATCC accession number CRL 8001. A hybridoma capable of producing OKT- 3 is also deposited with European Collection of Authenticated Cell Cultures (ECACC) and assigned Catalogue No. 86022706. Anti-CD3 antibodies also include the UHCTl clone (commercially available from BioLegend, San Diego, CA, USA), also known as T3 and CD38.

TABLE 1. Amino acid sequences of muromonab.

Sequence (One-Letter Amino Acid Symbols) SEQ ID NO:1 QVQLQQSGAE LARPGASVKM SCKASGYTFT RYTMHWVKQR PGQGLEWIGY INPSRGYTNY 60 Muromonab heavy KATL STAY MQLSSLTSED SAVYYCARYY DDHYCLDYWG QGTTLTVSSA 120 chain KTTAPSVYPL APVCGGTTGS SVTLGCLVKG TLTW NSGSLSSGVH TFPAVLQSDL 180 VTVT SSTWPSQSIT CNVAHPASST KVDKKIEPRP KSCDKTHTCP PCPAPELLGG 240 PSVFLFPPKP KDTLMISRTP VDVS HEDPEVKFNW YVDGVEVHNA KTKPREEQYN STYRVVSVLT VLHQDWLNGK EYKCKVSNKA KTIS KAKGQPREPQ VYTLPPSRDE LTKNQVSLTC LVKGFYPSDI AVEWESNGQP ENNYKTTPPV LDSDGSFFLY SKLTVDKSRW QQGNVFSCSV MHEALHNHYT QKSLSLSPGK SEQ ID NO:2 SPAI MSASPGEKVT MTCSASSSVS YMNWYQQKSG TSPKRWIYDT SKLASGVPAH Muromonab light FRGSGSGTSY SLTISGMEAE DAATYYCQQW SSNPFTFGSG RADT APTVSIFPPS chain SEQLTSGGAS VVCFLNNFYP KDINVKWKID GVLN SWTDQDSKDS TYSMSSTLTL TKDEYERHNS YTCEATHKTS TSPIVKSFNR NEC The term “IL-2” (also referred to herein as “IL2”) refers to the T cell growth factor known as eukin-2, and es all forms of IL-2 including human and mammalian forms, vative amino acid substitutions, glycoforms, biosimilars, and variants f. IL-2 is described, e.g., in Nelson, J. Immunol. 2004, 172, 3983-88 and Malek, Annu. Rev. Immunol. 2008, 26, 453-79, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. The amino acid sequence of recombinant human 1L-2 suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID NO:3). For example, the term IL-2 asses human, recombinant forms of 1L-2 such as aldesleukin (PROLEUKIN, available commercially from multiple suppliers in 22 million IU per single use vials), as well as the form of recombinant 1L-2 commercially supplied by CellGeniX, Inc., Portsmouth, NH, USA RO GMP) or ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd., East Brunswick, NJ, USA (Cat. No. CYTb) and other commercial equivalents from other s. Aldesleukin (des-alanyl-l, serine-125 human IL-2) is a nonglycosylated human recombinant form of IL-2 with a molecular weight of approximately 15 kDa. The amino acid sequence of eukin suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID N04).

The term IL-2 also encompasses ted forms of IL-2, as described herein, including the pegylated 1L2 prodrug NKTR-214, available from Nektar Therapeutics, South San Francisco, CA, USA. NKTR—214 and pegylated IL-2 suitable for use in the invention is described in US.

Patent Application Publication No. US 2014/0328791 A1 and International Patent Application Publication No. herein. Alternative forms of conjugated IL-2 suitable for use in the invention are described in US. Patent Nos. 4,766,106, 5,206,344, 5,089,261 and 4902,502, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. Formulations of 1L-2 suitable for use in the invention are described in US. Patent No. 6,706,289, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

TABLE 2. Amino acid ces of interleukins.

Identifier Sequence (One-Letter Amino Acid Symbols) SEQ ID NO:3 MAPTSSSTKK TQLQLEHLLJ DLQMILNGIN NYKNPKLTRM MPKK LQCL 60 recombinant EEELKPLEEV LNLAQSKNFl LRPRDLISNI NVIVLELKGS ETTFMCEYAD ETATIVEFLN I20 human ILi2 RWITFCQSII STLT I34 (rhILe2) SEQ ID NO:4 PTSSSTKKTQ LQLEHLLLDJ QMILNGINNY KNPKLTRMLT FKFYMPKKAT ELKlLQCLEE 60 AIdesIeukin ELKPLEEVLN LAQSKNFHLR PRDLISNINV IVLELKGSET TFMCEYADET ATIVEFLNRW I20 ITFSQSIIST LT I32 SEQ ID NO:5 MHKCDITLQE IIKTLNSLTE QKTLCTELTV TDIFAASKNT TEKETECRAA TVLRQFYSHH 60 recombinant LGAT AQQFHRHKQJ IRFLKRLDRN LWGLAGLNSC PVKEANQSTL LKTI I20 human ILi4 MREKYSKCSS I30 (rhILe4) SEQ ID NO:6 MDCDIEGKDG KQYESVLMVS IDQLLDSMKE IGSNCLNNEF NEFKRHICDA NKEGMFLFRA 60 recombinant ARKLRQFLKM NSTGDFDLHJ LKVSEGTTIL LNCTGQVKGR EAQP TKSJEENKSL I20 human ILi7 KEQKKLNDLC FLKRLLQEI{ TCWNKILMGT KEH I53 (rhILe7) SEQ ID NO:7 MNWVNVISDL KKIEDLIQSM YTES DVHPSCKVTA MKCFLLELQV ISLESGDASI 60 recombinant HDTVENLIIL ANNSLSSNGN VTESGCKECE ELEEKNIKEF LQSFVHIVQM FINTS II5 human IL7I5 (rhILeIS) SEQ ID NO:8 MQDRHMIRMR QLIDIVDQLK NYVNDLVPEF LPAPEDVETN CEWSAFSCFQ KAQJKSANTG 60 inant NNERIINVSI KKLKRKPPST NAGRRQKHRL TCPSCDSYEK KPPKEFLERF KSLJQKMIHQ I20 human ILi2I HLSSRTHGSE DS I32 The term “IL-4” (also referred to herein as “IL4”) refers to the cytokine known as eukin 4, which is produced by Th2 T cells and by eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells.

IL-4 tes the differentiation of naive helper T cells (Th0 cells) to Th2 T cells. Steinke and Borish, Respir. Res. 2001, 2, 66-70. Upon activation by IL-4, Th2 T cells subsequently produce additional 1L-4 in a positive feedback loop. IL-4 also stimulates B cell proliferation and class II MHC expression, and induces class switching to IgE and IgG1 expression from B cells.

Recombinant human IL-4 suitable for use in the invention is cially available from multiple suppliers, including ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd., East Brunswick, NJ, USA (Cat.

No. CYT-2l l) and ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA (human IL-4 recombinant protein, Cat. No. Gibco CTPOO43). The amino acid ce of inant human IL-4 suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID N05).

The term “IL-7” (also referred to herein as “IL7”) refers to a glycosylated tissuederived cytokine known as interleukin 7, which may be obtained from stromal and epithelial cells, as well as from dendritic cells. Fry and Mackall, Blood 2002, 99, 3892-904. IL-7 can stimulate the development of T cells. IL-7 binds to the IL-7 receptor, a heterodimer consisting of IlL-7 receptor alpha and common gamma chain receptor, which in a series of s important for T cell development within the thymus and survival within the periphery. Recombinant human IL-4 suitable for use in the invention is commercially available from multiple suppliers, including ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd., East Brunswick, NJ, USA (Cat. No. 4) and Fisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA (human IL-7 recombinant protein, Cat. No.

Gibco PHCOO7l). The amino acid sequence of recombinant human IL-7 suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID N06).

The term “IL-15” (also referred to herein as “IL15”) refers to the T cell growth factor known as interleukin-15, and includes all forms of IL-2 including human and mammalian forms, vative amino acid substitutions, glycoforms, biosimilars, and variants f. IL-15 is described, e.g., in Fehniger and Caligiuri, Blood 2001, 97, 14-32, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. IL-15 shares [3 and y signaling receptor subunits with IL-2.

Recombinant human IL-15 is a single, non-glycosylated polypeptide chain containing 114 amino acids (and an N-terminal methionine) with a molecular mass of 12.8 kDa. Recombinant human IL-15 is commercially available from multiple suppliers, including ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd., East Brunswick, NJ, USA (Cat. No. CYTb) and ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc., m, MA, USA (human IL-15 recombinant protein, Cat. No. 9-82). The amino acid sequence of recombinant human 1L-15 suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID N07).

The term “IL-21” (also referred to herein as “IL21”) refers to the pleiotropic cytokine protein known as interleukin-21, and includes all forms of 1L-21 including human and mammalian forms, conservative amino acid substitutions, glycoforms, biosimilars, and variants thereof. 1L-21 is described, e.g., in Spolski and Leonard, Nat. Rev. Drug. Disc. 2014, 13, 379- 95, the disclosure of which is incorporated by nce herein. IL-21 is primarily produced by l killer T cells and activated human CD4+ T cells. Recombinant human IL-21 is a single, ycosylated polypeptide chain containing 132 amino acids with a molecular mass of 15.4 kDa. Recombinant human IL-21 is commercially available from multiple ers, including ProSpec-Tany TechnoGene Ltd., East Brunswick, NJ, USA (Cat. No. CYTb) and ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA (human IL-21 inant protein, Cat. No. 1480). The amino acid sequence of recombinant human lL-21 suitable for use in the invention is given in Table 2 (SEQ ID NO:8).

The term “biosimilar” means a biological product, including a monoclonal antibody or fusion protein, that is highly similar to a US. licensed reference biological product notwithstanding minor differences in clinically inactive components, and for which there are no ally gful differences n the biological product and the reference product in terms of the safety, purity, and potency of the product. Furthermore, a similar biological or “biosimilar” medicine is a biological medicine that is similar to another biological medicine that has already been authorized for use by the European Medicines Agency. The term milar” is also used synonymously by other national and regional regulatory es. Biological products or biological medicines are medicines that are made by or derived from a biological source, such as a bacterium or yeast. They can consist of relatively small molecules such as human insulin or erythropoietin, or compleX molecules such as monoclonal antibodies. For example, if the nce IL-2 protein is aldesleukin (PROLEUKIN), a protein ed by drug regulatory authorities with reference to aldesleukin is a “biosimilar to” aldesleukin or is a “biosimilar thereof’ of aldesleukin. In Europe, a similar biological or milar” medicine is a biological medicine that is similar to another biological medicine that has already been authorized for use by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The relevant legal basis for similar biological applications in Europe is Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and e 10(4) of Directive 2001/83/EC, as amended and therefore in Europe, the biosimilar may be authorized, approved for authorization or subject of an application for authorization under Article 6 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 and Article 10(4) of ive 2001/83/EC. The already authorized original biological medicinal product may be referred to as a ence medicinal product” in Europe. Some of the requirements for a product to be considered a biosimilar are outlined in the CHMP Guideline on r Biological Medicinal Products. In on, product specific guidelines, including guidelines relating to monoclonal antibody biosimilars, are provided on a product-by-product basis by the EMA and published on its website. A biosimilar as bed herein may be similar to the reference medicinal product by way of quality characteristics, biological activity, mechanism of action, safety profiles and/or cy. In addition, the biosimilar may be used or be intended for use to treat the same ions as the reference medicinal product. Thus, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar quality characteristics to a reference medicinal product.

Alternatively, or in on, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar ical activity to a nce medicinal product. Alternatively, or in addition, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have a similar or highly similar safety profile to a nce medicinal product. Alternatively, or in addition, a biosimilar as described herein may be deemed to have similar or highly similar efficacy to a reference medicinal t. As described herein, a biosimilar in Europe is compared to a reference medicinal product which has been authorized by the EMA. However, in some instances, the biosimilar may be compared to a biological medicinal t which has been authorized outside the European Economic Area (a A authorized “comparator”) in certain studies. Such studies include for e certain clinical and in vivo inical studies. As used herein, the term “biosimilar” also relates to a biological medicinal product which has been or may be compared to a non-EEA authorized comparator. n biosimilars are proteins such as antibodies, antibody fragments (for example, antigen binding ns) and fusion proteins. A protein biosimilar may have an amino acid sequence that has minor modifications in the amino acid structure (including for example deletions, ons, and/or substitutions of amino acids) which do not significantly affect the function of the polypeptide. The ilar may comprise an amino acid sequence having a sequence identity of 97% or greater to the amino acid sequence of its reference medicinal product, e.g., 97%, 98%, 99% or 100%. The biosimilar may comprise one or more post- translational modifications, for example, although not limited to, glycosylation, oxidation, deamidation, and/or tion which is/are different to the post-translational modifications of the reference medicinal product, provided that the differences do not result in a change in safety and/or efficacy of the medicinal product. The biosimilar may have an identical or different glycosylation pattern to the reference medicinal product. ularly, although not exclusively, the biosimilar may have a different glycosylation pattern if the differences address or are intended to address safety ns associated with the reference medicinal product.

Additionally, the biosimilar may deviate from the reference medicinal product in for example its th, pharmaceutical form, formulation, excipients and/or presentation, providing safety and efficacy of the medicinal product is not compromised. The biosimilar may comprise ences in for e pharmacokinetic (PK) and/or pharmacodynamic (PD) profiles as compared to the reference nal product but is still deemed sufficiently similar to the reference medicinal t as to be authorized or considered suitable for authorization. In certain circumstances, the biosimilar exhibits different binding characteristics as compared to the reference medicinal product, wherein the different binding characteristics are considered by a Regulatory Authority such as the EMA not to be a barrier for authorization as a similar biological product. The term “biosimilar” is also used mously by other national and regional regulatory agencies.

] As used herein, the term “variant” encompasses but is not limited to antibodies or fusion proteins which comprise an amino acid sequence which differs from the amino acid sequence of a reference antibody by way of one or more substitutions, deletions and/or additions at certain positions within or adjacent to the amino acid sequence of the reference antibody. The variant may comprise one or more conservative substitutions in its amino acid sequence as compared to the amino acid sequence of a reference antibody. Conservative substitutions may involve, e.g., the substitution of similarly charged or uncharged amino acids. The variant retains the ability to specifically bind to the antigen of the nce antibody. The term variant also es pegylated antibodies or proteins.

“Pegylation” refers to a modified antibody, or a fragment thereof, that typically is reacted with polyethylene glycol (PEG), such as a reactive ester or aldehyde tive of PEG, under conditions in which one or more PEG groups become attached to the antibody, antibody nt, or protein. Pegylation may, for e, increase the biological (e.g., serum) half life of the antibody or protein. Preferably, the pegylation is d out via an acylation reaction or an alkylation reaction with a reactive PEG molecule (or an analogous reactive water-soluble polymer). As used herein, the term “polyethylene glycol” is intended to ass any of the forms of PEG that have been used to derivatize other proteins, such as mono (Cl-Clo) alkoxy- or aryloxy-polyethylene glycol or polyethylene glycol-maleimide. The antibody or protein to be pegylated may be an aglycosylated antibody. Methods for pegylation are known in the art and can be applied to the antibodies of the invention, as described for example in European Patent Nos. EP 6 and EP 0401384.

] The term “hematological malignancy” refers to mammalian cancers and tumors of the hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, including but not limited to tissues of the blood, bone , lymph nodes, and lymphatic system. Hematological malignancies are also referred to as “liquid tumors.” Hematological malignancies include, but are not limited to, acute blastic leukemia (ALL), chronic cytic lymphoma (CLL), small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), acute monocytic leukemia , Hodgkin's lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. The term “B cell hematological malignancy” refers to hematological malignancies that affect B cells.

The term “solid tumor” refers to an abnormal mass of tissue that y does not contain cysts or liquid areas. Solid tumors may be benign or malignant. The term “solid tumor cancer” refers to malignant, neoplastic, or cancerous solid tumors. Solid tumor cancers include, but are not d to, sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas, such as cancers of the lung, breast, prostate, colon, rectum, and bladder. The tissue structure of solid tumors includes interdependent tissue compartments including the parenchyma (cancer cells) and the supporting stromal cells in which the cancer cells are dispersed and which may provide a supporting microenvironment.

] The term “liquid tumor” refers to an abnormal mass of cells that is fluid in nature.

Liquid tumor cancers include, but are not limited to, leukemias, myelomas, and lymphomas, as well as other hematological malignancies. TILs obtained from liquid tumors may also be referred to herein as marrow infiltrating lymphocytes (MILs).

The term “microenvironment,” as used , may refer to the solid or hematological tumor microenvironment as a whole or to an individual subset of cells within the nvironment. The tumor microenvironment, as used herein, refers to a x mixture of “cells, soluble factors, ing molecules, extracellular matrices, and mechanical cues that promote stic transformation, support tumor growth and on, protect the tumor from host ty, foster therapeutic resistance, and provide niches for dominant ases to thrive,” as described in Swartz, el al., Cancer Res, 2012, 72, 2473. Although tumors express antigens that should be ized by T cells, tumor clearance by the immune system is rare because of immune suppression by the microenvironment.

The terms “fragmenting,” “fragment,” and “fragmented,” as used herein to describe processes for disrupting a tumor, includes mechanical fragmentation methods such as crushing, slicing, dividing, and morcellating tumor tissue as well as any other method for disrupting the physical structure of tumor tissue.

The terms “about” and “approximately” mean within a statistically meaningful range of a value. Such a range can be within an order of magnitude, preferably within 50%, more preferably within 20%, more preferably still within 10%, and even more preferably within 5% of WO 94167 a given value or range. The ble variation encompassed by the terms ” or “approximately” s on the particular system under study, and can be readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, as used herein, the terms ” and “approximately” mean that dimensions, sizes, formulations, parameters, shapes and other quantities and characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and/or larger or smaller, as desired, reflecting tolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement error and the like, and other factors known to those of skill in the art. In general, a dimension, size, formulation, parameter, shape or other quantity or characteristic is “about” or “approximate” whether or not expressly stated to be such. It is noted that embodiments of very different sizes, shapes and dimensions may employ the described arrangements.

The transitional terms “comprising,77 (L consisting essentially of,” and “consisting of,” when used in the appended claims, in original and amended form, define the claim scope with respect to what unrecited additional claim elements or steps, if any, are excluded from the scope of the claim(s). The term “comprising” is intended to be inclusive or open-ended and does not e any additional, unrecited t, method, step or material. The term “consisting of’ excludes any element, step or material other than those specified in the claim and, in the latter instance, impurities ordinary associated with the specified material(s). The term “consisting essentially of’ limits the scope of a claim to the ed elements, steps or material(s) and those that do not materially affect the basic and novel characteristic(s) of the claimed invention. All itions, methods, and kits described herein that embody the invention can, in alternate embodiments, be more specifically defined by any of the transitional terms “comprising,” “consisting essentially of,” and “consisting of.” For the avoidance of doubt, it is intended herein that ular features (for example rs, characteristics, values, uses, diseases, formulae, compounds or groups) bed in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood as applicable to any other , embodiment or example bed herein unless incompatible therewith. Thus such features may be used where appropriate in conjunction with any of the definition, claims or embodiments defined herein. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to any details of any disclosed embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. s of Expanding Remnant Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes In an ment, the invention es a method of expanding remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs) after digestion of a tumor as described herein.

In an ment, the invention includes a method of expanding rTILs, the method comprising contacting a population of rTILs comprising at least one rTIL with IL-2, thereby expanding rTILs.

In an embodiment, the ion provides a method of expanding a population of rTILs, the method comprising the steps as described in Jin, er al., J. Immunolherapy 2012, 35, 2, the disclosure of which is orated by reference . For example, the tumor may be placed in enzyme media and mechanically fragmented for approximately 1 minute. The mixture may then be incubated for 30 minutes at 37 0C in 5% C02 and then mechanically fragmented again for approximately 1 minute. After incubation for 30 s at 37 0C in 5% C02, the tumor may be mechanically fragmented a third time for approximately 1 minute. If after the third mechanical disruption, large pieces of tissue are present, 1 or 2 additional mechanical iations may be applied to the sample, with or without 30 additional minutes of tion at 37 0C in 5% C02. At the end of the final incubation, if the cell suspension contains a large number of red blood cells or dead cells, a density gradient separation using Ficoll may be performed to remove these cells. TIL cultures were initiated in 24-well plates (Costar 24-well cell culture cluster, flat bottom, Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY), each well may be seeded with l>< 106 tumor digest cells or one tumor fragment approximately l—8 mm3 in size in 2 mL of complete medium (CM) with IL-2 (6000 IU/mL, Chiron Corp., Emeryville, CA). CM consists of RPMI 1640 with GlutaMAX, mented with 10% human AB serum, 25mM Hepes, and mg/mL gentamicin. Cultures may be initiated in gas-permeable flasks with a 40 mL capacity and a 10 cm2 gas-permeable silicon bottom (G—Rex 10, Wilson Wolf Manufacturing, New Brighton), each flask may be loaded with lO-40>< lO6 viable tumor digest cells or 5—30 tumor fragments in 10—40 mL of CM with IL-2. G—Rex 10 and 24-well plates may be incubated in a humidified tor at 37 0C in 5% C02 and 5 days after culture initiation, half the media may be removed and replaced with fresh CM and IL-2 and after day 5, half the media may be changed every 2—3 days. A rapid expansion protocol (REP) for TILs may be med using T- 175 flasks and gas-permeable bags or gas-permeable G—Rex flasks, as described elsewhere herein. For REP in T-l75 flasks, l><106 rTILs may be suspended in 150 mL of media in each flask. The rTIL may be cultured in a l to 1 mixture of CM and AIM-V medium (50/50 ), supplemented with 3000 IU/mL of IL-2 and 30 ng/mL of anti-CD3 antibody (OKT-3).

The T-l75 flasks may be incubated at 37 0C in 5% C02. Half the media may be changed on day using 50/50 medium with 3000 IU/mL of IL-2. On day 7, cells from 2 T-l75 flasks may be combined in a 3 L bag and 300 mL of AIM-V with 5% human AB serum and 3000 IU/mL of IL- 2 may be added to the 300 mL of TIL suspension. The number of cells in each bag may be counted every day or two days, and fresh media may be added to keep the cell count between 0.5 and 2.0><106 cells/mL. For REP in 500 mL capacity flasks with 100 cm2 rmeable n bottoms (e.g., G—Rex 100, Wilson Wolf cturing, as described ere herein), 5><106 or ><106 TILs may be cultured in 400 mL of 50/50 medium, supplemented with 3000 IU/mL of IL-2 and 30 ng/mL of anti-CD3 antibody (OKT-3). The G—Rex100 flasks may be incubated at 37 0C in 5% C02. On day five, 250 mL of supernatant may be removed and placed into fuge bottles and centrifuged at 1500 rpm (491 g) for 10 minutes. The obtained TIL pellets may be resuspended with 150 mL of fresh 50/50 medium with 3000 IU/mL of IL-2 and added back to the G—Rex 100 flasks. When TIL are expanded serially in G—Rex 100 flasks, on day seven the TIL in each G-Rex100 are suspended in the 300 mL of media t in each flask and the cell suspension may be divided into three 100 mL aliquots that may be used to seed 3 G- Rex100 flasks. About 150 mL of AIM-V with 5% human AB serum and 3000 IU/mL of IL-2 may then be added to each flask. G—Rex100 flasks may then be incubated at 37 0C in 5% C02, and after four days, 150 mL of AIM-V with 3000 IU/mL of IL-2 may be added to each G- Rex100 flask. After this, the REP may be completed by harvesting cells on day 14 of culture.

In an embodiment, a method of expanding or treating a cancer includes a step wherein TILs are obtained from a patient tumor sample. A patient tumor sample may be obtained using methods known in the art. For example, TILs may be cultured from enzymatic tumor digests and tumor fragments (about 1 to about 8 mm3 in size) from sharp dissection. Such tumor digests may be produced by incubation in enzymatic media (e.g., Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 buffer, 2 mM glutamate, 10 mcg/mL gentamicine, 30 units/mL of DNase and 1.0 mg/mL of collagenase) followed by mechanical dissociation (e.g., using a tissue dissociator or fragmenter).

Tumor digests may be ed by placing the tumor in enzymatic media and mechanically fragmenting the tumor for approximately 1 minute, followed by incubation for 30 minutes at 37 0C in 5% C02, followed by ed cycles of mechanical dissociation and incubation under the foregoing conditions until only small tissue pieces are present. At the end of this process, if the cell suspension contains a large number of red blood cells or dead cells, a density gradient separation using FICOLL branched hydrophilic polysaccharide may be performed to remove these cells. Alternative methods known in the art may be used, such as those described in US.

Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0244133 Al, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. Any of the foregoing methods may be used in any of the embodiments described herein for methods of expanding TILs or methods ng a cancer.

In an embodiment, REP of rTILs can be performed in a gas permeable container using any suitable method. For example, rTILs can be rapidly expanded using non-specif1c T cell receptor stimulation in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-15 (IL-15), and/or interleukin-21 (IL-21), as described, e.g., in International Patent Application ation Nos. incorporated by reference herein. The non-specific T cell receptor stimulus can include, for example, about 30 ng/mL of OKT-3, a monoclonal anti-CD3 antibody (commercially available from Ortho-McNeil, Raritan, NJ or Miltenyi Biotech, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA). TILs can be y ed by further stimulation of the TILs in vitro with one or more ns, including antigenic portions thereof, such as epitope(s), of the cancer, which can be optionally expressed from a vector, such as a human leukocyte antigen A2 (HLA-A2) binding peptide, e.g., 0.3 uM MART-1:26-35 (27 L) or gpl 00:209-217 (210M), optionally in the presence of a T cell growth factor, such as 300 IU/mL IL-2 or IL-15. Other suitable antigens may e, e.g., -l, TRP-l, TRP-2, nase cancer antigen, MAGE-A3, SSX-2, and VEGFR2, or antigenic portions thereof. TIL may also be rapidly ed by re-stimulation with the same antigen(s) of the cancer pulsed onto HLA-A2-expressing antigen-presenting cells. Alternatively, the TILs can be further re-stimulated with, e.g., example, irradiated, autologous lymphocytes or with ated HLA-A2+ neic lymphocytes and IL-2.

In an embodiment, a method for expanding TILs may include using about 5000 mL to about 25000 mL of cell medium, about 5000 mL to about 10000 mL of cell culture medium, or about 5800 mL to about 8700 mL of cell culture medium. In an embodiment, a method for ing TILs may include using about 1000 mL to about 2000 mL of cell medium, about 2000 mL to about 3000 mL of cell culture medium, about 3000 mL to about 4000 mL of cell culture medium, about 4000 mL to about 5000 mL of cell culture medium, about 5000 mL to about 6000 mL of cell culture medium, about 6000 mL to about 7000 mL of cell culture medium, about 7000 mL to about 8000 mL of cell culture medium, about 8000 mL to about 9000 mL of cell culture medium, about 9000 mL to about 10000 mL of cell culture medium, about 10000 mL to about 15000 mL of cell culture medium, about 15000 mL to about 20000 mL of cell culture medium, or about 20000 mL to about 25000 mL of cell culture medium. In an ment, expanding the number of TILs uses no more than one type of cell culture . Any suitable cell culture medium may be used, e.g., AHVI-V cell medium tamine, 50 M streptomycin sulfate, and 10 M gentamicin sulfate) cell e medium (Invitrogen, Carlsbad CA). In this , the inventive methods advantageously reduce the amount of medium and the number of types of medium required to expand the number of TIL. In an embodiment, ing the number of TIL may comprise feeding the cells no more frequently than every third or fourth day.

Expanding the number of cells in a gas permeable container simplifies the procedures necessary to expand the number of cells by reducing the feeding frequency necessary to expand the cells.

In an ment, the rapid expansion is performed using a gas permeable container.

Such embodiments allow for cell populations to expand from about 5 X 105 cells/cm2 to between X 106 and 30 X 106 cells/cmz. In an embodiment, this expansion occurs without feeding. In an embodiment, this expansion occurs without feeding so long as medium resides at a height of about 10 cm in a rmeable flask. In an embodiment this is without feeding but with the addition of one or more cytokines. In an embodiment, the cytokine can be added as a bolus without any need to mix the cytokine with the medium. Such containers, s, and methods are known in the art and have been used to expand TILs, and include those described in US.

Patent ation Publication No. US 3 77739 A1, International Patent Application Publication No. 2013/0115617 A1, International Publication No.

Publication No. US 2011/0136228 A1, US. Patent No. 8,809,050, International Patent WO 94167 Application Publication No. 2016/0208216 A1, US. Patent Application ation No. US 2012/0244133 A1, International Patent Application Publication No.

No. US 2013/0102075 A1, US. Patent No. 8,956,860, International Patent Application Publication No. 2015/0175966 Al, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Such processes are also bed in Jin, el al., J. Immunolherapy 2012, 35, 283-292, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment, the gas permeable container is a G—ReX 10 flask (Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a 10 cm2 gas ble culture surface. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a 40 mL cell culture medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 100 to 300 million TILs after 2 medium exchanges.

In an embodiment, the gas permeable container is a G—ReX 100 flask (Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a 100 cm2 gas ble culture surface. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a 450 mL cell e medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 1 to 3 billion TILs after 2 medium exchanges.

In an embodiment, the gas ble container is a G—ReX 100M flask (Wilson Wolf cturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a 100 cm2 gas permeable culture surface. In an embodiment, the gas ble container includes a 1000 mL cell culture medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 1 to 3 billion TlLs without medium ge.

In an embodiment, the gas permeable container is a G—ReX lOOL flask (Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas ble container includes a 100 cm2 gas permeable culture surface. In an embodiment, the gas permeable ner includes a 2000 mL cell culture medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 1 to 3 billion TlLs t medium exchange.

In an embodiment, the gas permeable container is a G—ReX 24 well plate (Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a plate with wells, n each well includes a 2 cm2 gas permeable culture e. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a plate with wells, wherein each well includes a 8 mL cell culture medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 20 to 60 million cells per well after 2 medium exchanges.

In an embodiment, the gas permeable container is a G—Rex 6 well plate (Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a plate with wells, wherein each well es a 10 cm2 gas permeable culture surface. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container includes a plate with wells, wherein each well includes a 40 mL cell e medium capacity. In an embodiment, the gas permeable container provides 100 to 300 million cells per well after 2 medium exchanges.

In an embodiment, the cell medium in the f1rstand/or second gas permeable container is unf11tered. The use of red cell medium may simplify the procedures necessary to expand the number of cells. In an embodiment, the cell medium in the first and/or second gas permeable container lacks beta-mercaptoethanol (BME).

] In an embodiment, the duration of the method comprising ing a tumor tissue sample from the mammal, culturing the tumor tissue sample in a first gas permeable container containing cell medium therein, obtaining TILs from the tumor tissue , expanding the number of TILs in a second gas permeable container containing cell medium therein for a duration of about 14 to about 42 days, e.g., about 28 days.

In an embodiment, the ratio of rTILs to PBMCs in the rapid expansion is about 1 to 25, about 1 to 50, about 1 to 100, about 1 to 125, about 1 to 150, about 1 to 175, about 1 to 200, about 1 to 225, about 1 to 250, about 1 to 275, about 1 to 300, about 1 to 325, about 1 to 350, about 1 to 375, about 1 to 400, or about 1 to 500. In an ment, the ratio of rTILs to PBMCs in the rapid expansion is between 1 to 50 and 1 to 300. In an ment, the ratio of rTILs to PBMCs in the rapid expansion is between 1 to 100 and 1 to 200.

In an embodiment, the ratio of rTILs to PBMCs (rTIL:PBMC) is selected from the group consisting of1:5, 1:10, 1:15, 1:20, 1:25, 1:30, 1:35, 1:40, 1:45, 1:50, 1:55, 1:60, 1:65, 1:70,1:75,1:80,1:85,1:90,1:95,1:100,1:105,1:110,1:115,1:120,1:125,1:130,1:135,1:140, 1:145,1:150,1:155,1:160,1:165,1:170,1:175,1:180,1:185,1:190,1:195,1:200,1:225,1:250, 1:275, 1:300, 1:350, 1:400, 1:450, and 1:500. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of rTILs to PBMCs (rTILzPBMC) is about 1:90. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of TILs to PBMCs (rTILzPBMC) is about 1:95. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to PBMCs (TIL:PBMC) is about 1:100. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to PBMCs (TIL:PBMC) is about 1:105. In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to PBMCs (TIL:PBMC) is about 1:110.

In an embodiment, the cell e medium further comprises IL-2. In a preferred embodiment, the cell culture medium comprises about 3000 IU/mL of IL-2. In an embodiment, the cell culture medium comprises about 1000 IU/mL, about 1500 IU/mL, about 2000 IU/mL, about 2500 IU/mL, about 3000 IU/mL, about 3500 IU/mL, about 4000 IU/mL, about 4500 IU/mL, about 5000 IU/mL, about 5500 IU/mL, about 6000 IU/mL, about 6500 IU/mL, about 7000 IU/mL, about 7500 IU/mL, or about 8000 IU/mL of IL-2. In an embodiment, the cell culture medium ses between 1000 and 2000 IU/mL, between 2000 and 3000 IU/mL, between 3000 and 4000 IU/mL, between 4000 and 5000 IU/mL, between 5000 and 6000 IU/mL, between 6000 and 7000 IU/mL, between 7000 and 8000 IU/mL, or between 8000 IU/mL of IL-2.

In an embodiment, the cell e medium comprises OKT-3 antibody. In a preferred embodiment, the cell e medium comprises about 30 ng/mL of OKT-3 dy. In an embodiment, the cell culture medium comprises about 0.1 ng/mL, about 0.5 ng/mL, about 1 ng/mL, about 2.5 ng/mL, about 5 ng/mL, about 7.5 ng/mL, about 10 ng/mL, about 15 ng/mL, about 20 ng/mL, about 25 ng/mL, about 30 ng/mL, about 35 ng/mL, about 40 ng/mL, about 50 ng/mL, about 60 ng/mL, about 70 ng/mL, about 80 ng/mL, about 90 ng/mL, about 100 ng/mL, about 200 ng/mL, about 500 ng/mL, and about 1 ug/mL of OKT-3 antibody. In an embodiment, the cell culture medium comprises n 0.1 ng/mL and 1 ng/mL, between 1 ng/mL and 5 ng/mL, between 5 ng/mL and 10 ng/mL, between 10 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL, between 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL, between 30 ng/mL and 40 ng/mL, between 40 ng/mL and 50 ng/mL, and between 50 ng/mL and 100 ng/mL of OKT-3 antibody.

] In an embodiment, a rapid expansion process for TILs may be performed using T-175 flasks and gas permeable bags as preViously described (Tran, el al., J. Immunolher. 2008, 31, 742-51, Dudley, er al., J. Immunolher. 2003, 26, 332-42) or gas ble cultureware (G—ReX flasks, commercially available from Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA). For TIL rapid expansion in T-175 flasks, 1 X 106 TILs suspended in 150 mL of WO 94167 media may be added to each T-l75 flask. The TlLs may be cultured in a l to 1 mixture of CM and AIM-V medium, supplemented with 3000 IU (injection units) per mL of IL-2 and 30 ng per mL of anti-CD3 antibody (e.g., OKT-3). The T-l75 flasks may be incubated at 37° C in 5% C02. Half the media may be exchanged on day 5 using 50/50 medium with 3000 IU per mL of IL-2. On day 7 cells from two T-l75 flasks may be combined in a 3 liter bag and 300 mL of AIM V with 5% human AB serum and 3000 IU per mL of IL-2 was added to the 300 ml of TIL suspension. The number of cells in each bag was d every day or two and fresh media was added to keep the cell count between 0.5 and 2.0 x 106 cells/mL.

In an embodiment, for TIL rapid expansions in 500 mL capacity gas permeable flasks with 100 cm gas-permeable silicon s (G—Rex 100, commercially available from Wilson Wolf Manufacturing Corporation, New Brighton, MN, USA), 5 X 106 or 10 X 106 TIL may be cultured in 50/50 medium, supplemented with 5% human AB serum, 3000 IU per mL of IL-2 and 30 ng per mL of anti-CD3 (OKT-3). The G-Rex 100 flasks may be incubated at 37°C in 5% C02. On day 5, 250 mL of atant may be removed and placed into centrifuge bottles and centrifuged at 1500 rpm utions per minute, 491 X g) for 10 minutes. The TIL pellets may be re-suspended with 150 mL of fresh medium with 5% human AB serum, 3000 IU per mL of IL-2, and added back to the original G—Rex 100 flasks. When TIL are expanded serially in G- Rex 100 flasks, on day 7 the TIL in each G—Rex 100 may be suspended in the 300 mL of media t in each flask and the cell suspension may be divided into 3 100 mL aliquots that may be used to seed 3 G-Rex 100 flasks. Then 150 mL of AHVI-V with 5% human AB serum and 3000 IU per mL of 1L-2 may be added to each flask. The G-Rex 100 flasks may be incubated at 37° C in 5% C02 and after 4 days 150 mL of AIM-V with 3000 IU per mL of IL-2 may be added to each G—Rex 100 flask. The cells may be harvested on day 14 of culture.

In an embodiment, TILs may be prepared as follows. 2 mm3 tumor fragments are cultured in complete media (CM) comprised of AIM-V medium (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA) supplemented with 2 mM glutamine (Mediatech, Inc. Manassas, VA), 100 U/mL penicillin (Invitrogen Life Technologies), 100 ug/mL streptomycin (Invitrogen Life Technologies), 5% heat-inactivated human AB serum (Valley Biomedical, Inc. Winchester, VA) and 600 IU/mL rhIL-2 (Chiron, ille, CA). For enzymatic digestion of solid tumors, tumor ens was diced into RPMI—l640, washed and centrifuged at 800 rpm for 5 minutes at 15- 22°C, and resuspended in enzymatic ion buffer (0.2 mg/mL Collagenase and 30 units/ml of DNase in RPMI-1640) followed by overnight rotation at room temperature. TILs established from fragments may be grown for 3-4 weeks in CM and ed fresh or cryopreserved in heat-inactivated HAB serum with 10% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and stored at -180°C until the time of study. Tumor associated lymphocytes (TAL) obtained from ascites collections were seeded at 3 X 106 cells/well of a 24 well plate in CM. TIL growth was inspected about every other day using a low-power ed cope.

In an embodiment, TILs are expanded in gas-permeable containers. Gas-permeable containers have been used to expand TILs using PBMCs using methods, compositions, and devices known in the art, including those described in US. Patent Application Publication No.

US. Patent Application Publication No. 2005/0106717 Al, the sures of which are incorporated herein by reference. In an embodiment, TILs are expanded in gas-permeable bags.

In an embodiment, TILs are expanded using a cell expansion system that expands TILs in gas permeable bags, such as the Xuri Cell Expansion System W25 (GE Healthcare). In an embodiment, TILs are expanded using a cell expansion system that expands TILs in gas permeable bags, such as the WAVE Bioreactor System, also known as the Xuri Cell Expansion System W5 (GE Healthcare). In an embodiment, the cell expansion system includes a gas permeable cell bag with a volume ed from the group consisting of about 100 mL, about 200 mL, about 300 mL, about 400 mL, about 500 mL, about 600 mL, about 700 mL, about 800 mL, about 900 mL, about 1 L, about 2 L, about 3 L, about 4 L, about 5 L, about 6 L, about 7 L, about 8 L, about 9 L, about 10 L, about 11 L, about 12 L, about 13 L, about 14 L, about 15 L, about 16 L, about 17 L, about 18 L, about 19 L, about 20 L, about 25 L, and about 30 L. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system includes a gas permeable cell bag with a volume range selected from the group consisting of between 50 and 150 mL, between 150 and 250 mL, between 250 and 350 mL, between 350 and 450 mL, between 450 and 550 mL, between 550 and 650 mL, between 650 and 750 mL, n 750 and 850 mL, between 850 and 950 mL, and between 950 and 1050 mL. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system es a gas permeable cell bag with a volume range selected from the group ting of between 1 L and 2 L, between 2 L and 3 L, between 3 L and 4 L, between 4 L and 5 L, between 5 L and 6 L, between 6 L and 7 L, between 7 L and 8 L, between 8 L and 9 L, n 9 L and 10 L, between L and 11 L, between 11 L and 12 L, between 12 L and 13 L, between 13 L and 14 L, between 14 L and 15 L, between 15 L and 16 L, between 16 L and 17 L, between 17 L and 18 L, between 18 L and 19 L, and between 19 L and 20 L. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system includes a gas permeable cell bag with a volume range selected from the group consisting of between 0.5 L and 5 L, between 5 L and 10 L, between 10 L and 15 L, between 15 L and 20 L, between 20 L and 25 L, and between 25 L and 30 L. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system utilizes a g time of about 30 minutes, about 1 hour, about 2 hours, about 3 hours, about 4 hours, about 5 hours, about 6 hours, about 7 hours, about 8 hours, about 9 hours, about hours, about 11 hours, about 12 hours, about 24 hours, about 2 days, about 3 days, about 4 days, about 5 days, about 6 days, about 7 days, about 8 days, about 9 days, about 10 days, about 11 days, about 12 days, about 13 days, about 14 days, about 15 days, about 16 days, about 17 days, about 18 days, about 19 days, about 20 days, about 21 days, about 22 days, about 23 days, about 24 days, about 25 days, about 26 days, about 27 days, and about 28 days. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system utilizes a rocking time of between 30 minutes and 1 hour, n 1 hour and 12 hours, between 12 hours and 1 day, between 1 day and 7 days, between 7 days and 14 days, between 14 days and 21 days, and between 21 days and 28 days. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system utilizes a rocking rate of about 2 rocks/minute, about rocks/minute, about 10 rocks/minute, about 20 rocks/minute, about 30 minute, and about 40 rocks/minute. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system utilizes a rocking rate of between 2 rocks/minute and 5 rocks/minute, 5 rocks/minute and 10 minute, 10 rocks/minute and 20 rocks/minute, 20 rocks/minute and 30 rocks/minute, and 30 minute and 40 rocks/minute. In an embodiment, the cell expansion system es a rocking angle of about 2°, about 3°, about 4°, about 5°, about 6°, about 7°, about 8°, about 9°, about 10°, about 11°, and about 12°. In an embodiment, the cell ion system utilizes a rocking angle of between 2° and 3°, between 3° and 4°, n 4° and 5°, between 5° and 6°, between 6° and 7°, between 7° and 8°, between 8° and 9°, between 9° and 10°, between 10° and 11°, and between 11° and 12°.

In an embodiment, a method of expanding rTILs further comprises a step n rTILs are selected for superior tumor reactiVity. Any selection method known in the art may be used. For example, the methods described in US. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0010058 Al, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, may be used for ion of TILs for superior tumor reactiVity.

Characteristics of rTILs In an embodiment, the rTILs of the invention exhibit an exhausted T cell phenotype characterized by one or more T cell exhaustion s. In an embodiment, the rTILs of the invention exhibit an exhausted T cell phenotype characterized by one or more T cell exhaustion markers using flow cytometry analysis. In an embodiment, the T cell exhaustion marker is PD-l.

In an embodiment, the T cell exhaustion marker is LAG3. In an ment, the T cell exhaustion marker is TIM3.

In an embodiment, PD-l expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, PD-l expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold ve to the eTILs.

] In an embodiment, LAG3 expression in rTILs is d by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, LAG3 expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, LAG3 sion in rTILs is undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, TIM3 expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, T11VI3 expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least , at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs. In an ment, TIM3 sion in rTILs is undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, TIGIT expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, TIGIT expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, TIGIT expression in rTILs is undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, CTLA-4 expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 5%, at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, CTLA-4 expression in rTILs is reduced by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8- fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, CTLA-4 expression in rTILs is undetectable by flow cytometry.

In an embodiment, CD69 expression in rTILs is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% ve to the eTILs. In an embodiment, CD69 expression in rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold, at least , at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least , at least 9- fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, SlPRl (sphingosine-l-phosphate or 1) expression in rTILs is decreased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, SlPRl sion in rTILs is sed by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least d relative to the eTILs.

] In an embodiment, telomere length in rTILs is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an ment, telomere length in rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold, at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9-fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, CD28 expression in rTILs is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, CD28 expression in rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold, at least , at least 4-fold, at least , at least 6-fold, at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9- fold, or at least 10-fold relative to the eTILs.

In an embodiment, CD27 expression in rTILs is increased by at least 10%, at least 20%, at least 30%, at least 40%, at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 70%, at least 80%, at least 90%, at least 100%, at least 110%, at least 120%, at least 130%, at least 140%, or at least 150% relative to the eTILs. In an embodiment, CD27 expression in rTILs is increased by at least , at least 3-fold, at least 4-fold, at least 5-fold, at least , at least 7-fold, at least 8-fold, at least 9- fold, or at least d relative to the eTILs.

] In some embodiments, the methods described herein may include an optional eservation of eTIL and/or rTIL in a storage media (for example, media containing 5% DMSO) prior to performing an additional step desribed herein or after completion of a REP step described herein, prior to transport, g, and/or administration to a patient. In some embodiments, the methods described herein may include a step of thawing cryopreserved TILs (e. g. cryopreserved eTIL, cryopreserved rTIL, or a combination or mixture thereof) prior to performing an additional step described herein. In some embodiments, the additional step may be an additional or repeated expansion of the eTIL and/or rTIL (e.g., a reREP), which may be performed on the thawed cells, using, for example, a supplemented cell culture medium sing IL-2, OKT-3, and/or feeder cells (e.g., antigen presenting cells), generally comprising peripheral blood mononuclear cells , or, atively, using antigen ting cells), wherein the additional expansion step may be performed for at least 14 days.

In some embodiments, such media may also contain combinations of IL-2, IL-15, and/or IL-23 rather than IL-2 alone.

As discussed herein, cryopreservation can occur at numerous points throughout the TIL expansion process. In some embodiments, a bulk TIL population (e.g., eTILs, rTILs, or a combination or mixture thereof) after expansion can be cryopreserved. Cryopreservation can be generally accomplished by placing the TIL population into a freezing solution, e.g., 85% WO 94167 complement inactivated AB serum and 15% dimethyl sulfoxide . The cells in solution are placed into cryogenic vials and stored for 24 hours at -80 0C, with optional transfer to s nitrogen freezers for cryopreservation. See, Sadeghi, el al., Acla Oncologica 2013, 52, 978-986. In some embodiments, the TILs described herein may be eserved in 5% DMSO.

In some embodiments, the TILs described herein may be cryopreserved in cell culture media plus 5% DMSO.

When riate, the cryopreserved cells described herein, such as cryopreserved rTILs, are removed from the freezer and thawed in a 37 oC water bath until approximately 4/5 of the solution is thawed. The cells are generally resuspended in complete media and ally washed one or more times. In some embodiments, the thawed TILs can be d and assessed for viability as is known in the art.

Methods of Digesting Tumors to Obtain rTILs In an ment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using one or more enzymes. Enzymes le for ion of tumors are described in Volvitz, el al., BMC Neuroscience 2016, 17, 30, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

In some embodiments, the invention may include methods of obtaining rTILs that include a step wherein a tumor, which may include tumor tissue or a portion thereof, is digested using an deoxyribonuclease, a collagenase, a hyaluronidase, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolytic cleavage of odiester linkages in the DNA backbone, thus degrading DNA. In an ment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease (DNase). In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease and at least one other enzyme. In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is deoxyribonuclease I. In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is deoxyribonuclease II. In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is deoxyribonuclease I from bovine pancreas (Sigma D5025 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is recombinant deoxyribonuclease I from bovine expressed in Pichiapastoris (Sigma D2821 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is inant human deoxyribonuclease I (thNAase I, also known as dornase alfa, commercially ble as PULMOZYME from Genentech, Inc.). In an embodiment, the ibonuclease is deoxyribonuclease II from bovine spleen (Sigma D8764 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the deoxyribonuclease is deoxyribonuclease II from porcine spleen (Sigma D4138 or equivalent). In an embodiment, any of the foregoing deoxyribonucleases is present in the tumor digest. The preparation and properties of deoxyribonucleases suitable for use in the invention are described in US. Patent Nos. 433, 6,391,607 , 7,407,785, and 7,297,526, and International Patent Application Publication No. WC 2016/108244 Al, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

In an ment, a method of obtaining rTILs es a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme that catalyzes the cleavage of peptide linkages in collagen, thus degrading collagen. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step n a tumor is digested using a collagenase. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a collagenase and at least one other enzyme. In an embodiment, the collagenase is collagenase from Clostridium histolylicum. In an embodiment, the collagenase is Clostridiopeptidase A. In an embodiment, the collagenase is collagenase I. In an embodiment, the collagenase is collagenase II. In an embodiment, the collagenase is collagenase from Clostridium ylicum (Sigma C5138 or equivalent). The preparation and properties of collagenases suitable for use in the ion are described in US. Patent Nos. 3,201,325, 3,705,083, 3,821,364, 5,177,017, 5,422,261, 5,989,888, 9,211,316, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by nce herein.

In an ment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme that catalyzes the degradation of hyaluronic acid. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a hyaluronidase.

In an ment, a method of ing rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is ed using a hyaluronoglucosidase. In an embodiment, the onidase is hyaluronidase Type I from bovine testes (Sigma H3506 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is hyaluronidase Type II from sheep testes (Sigma H2126 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is hyaluronidase Type III. In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is hyaluronidase Type IV (Type IV-S) from bovine testes (Sigma H3884 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is hyaluronidase Type V from sheep testes (Sigma H6254 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is hyaluronidase Type VIII from bovine testes (Sigma H3757 or equivalent). In an embodiment, the hyaluronidase is recombinant human onidase rcially available as X from Halozyme, Inc). The ation and properties of hyaluronidases suitable for use in the invention are described in US. Patent Nos. 4,820,516, ,593,877, 6,057,110, 6,123,938, 7,767,429, 8,202,517, 8,431,124, and 8,431,380, the disclosures of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease and a hyaluronidase. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease and a collagenase. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a hyaluronidase and a collagenase. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease, a hyaluronidase, and a collagenase.

] In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease and a hyaluronidase and at least one additional enzyme. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a deoxyribonuclease and a collagenase and at least one additional enzyme. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a hyaluronidase and a collagenase and at least one onal enzyme. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using a ibonuclease, a onidase, and a collagenase and at least one additional enzyme. In any of the ing embodiments, the additional enzyme is selected from the group consisting of caseinase, clostripain, trypsin, and combinations thereof.

In an embodiment, a method of ing rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, and further comprises the step of mechanically disrupting or fragmenting the tumor before, during, or after ion.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is performed over a period selected from the group consisting of 15 minutes, 30 s, 45 minutes, 1 hour, 90 minutes, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours, 9 hours, 10 hours, 11 hours, 12 hours, 18 hours, 24 hours, 36 hours, and 48 hours.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is performed over a period selected from the group consisting of about 15 minutes, about 30 minutes, about 45 minutes, about 1 hour, about 90 minutes, about 2 hours, about 3 hours, about 4 hours, about 5 hours, about 6 hours, about 7 hours, about 8 hours, about 9 hours, about 10 hours, about 11 hours, about 12 hours, about 18 hours, about 24 hours, about 36 hours, and about 48 hours.

In an ment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is performed over a period selected from the group consisting of less than 15 minutes, less than 30 s, less than 45 s, less than 1 hour, less than 90 minutes, less than 2 hours, less than 3 hours, less than 4 hours, less than 5 hours, less than 6 hours, less than 7 hours, less than 8 hours, less than 9 hours, less than 10 hours, less than 11 hours, less than 12 hours, less than 18 hours, less than 24 hours, less than 36 hours, and less than 48 hours.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is performed over a period selected from the group consisting of greater than 15 s, greater than 30 minutes, r than 45 minutes, greater than 1 hour, greater than 90 minutes, greater than 2 hours, greater than 3 hours, greater than 4 hours, greater than 5 hours, greater than 6 hours, greater than 7 hours, greater than 8 hours, greater than 9 hours, greater than 10 hours, greater than 11 hours, greater than 12 hours, greater than 18 hours, greater than 24 hours, greater than 36 hours, and greater than 48 hours.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is performed over a period selected from the group consisting of n 30 minutes and 1 hour, between 1 hours and 2 hours, between 2 hours and 3 hours, n 3 hours and 4 hours, between 4 hours and 5 hours, n 5 hours and 6 hours, between 6 hours and 12 hours, between 12 hours and 18 hours, between 18 hours and 24 hours, and between 24 hours and 48 hours.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme bed above, wherein the digestion is performed at a temperature selected from the group consisting of about 20 oC, about 25 oC, about 30 oC, about 35 oC, about 40 oC, about 45 oC, about 50 oC, about 55 oC, about 60 oC, about 65 oC, about 70 oC, about 75 oC, and about 80 0C.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step n a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the digestion is med at a temperature selected from the group consisting of between 20 oC and 25 oC, between 25 oC and 30 oC, between 30 oC and 35 oC, between 35 oC and 40 oC, between 40 oC and 45 oC, between 45 oC and 50 oC, between 50 oC and about 55 oC, between 55 oC and 60 oC, n 60 oC and 65 oC, between 65 oC and 70 oC, between 70 oC and 75 oC, and between 75 oC and 80 0C.

In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs includes a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the time and temperature of the digestion are each decreased if tumor remnants (after pre-REP) are digested. In an embodiment, a method of obtaining rTILs es a step wherein a tumor is digested using any enzyme described above, wherein the time and temperature of the digestion are each se if whole tumor fragments (without pre-REP) are ed. s of Modulating rTIL to eTIL Ratio In an embodiment, the concentration of rTILs relative to eTILs may be modulated or controlled by use of any expansion and digestion steps as described herein (including pre-REP), such that a therapeutic TIL product for use in the treatment of cancers described herein may contain a desirable rTIL to eTIL ratio. In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of removing eTILs from a mixture of eTILs and rTILs. In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of removing rTILs from a mixture of eTILs and rTILs.

In some embodiments of the methods of the ion, eTILs and/or rTILs may be added to a culture before an initial expansion step, at a first expansion step (e.g., pre-REP), and/or at a second expansion step (e.g., REP). In some embodiments of the s of the invention, eTILS may be separately ed according to the culture or expansion steps described herein through one, two, three, or more expansions, and added to a population of rTILS and eTILS at a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio. In some embodiments of the methods of the invention, rTILS may be tely cultured according to the culture or expansion steps bed herein through one, two, three, or more expansions, and added to a population of eTlLS to provide a mixture of rTILS and eTILS at a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio.

In an embodiment, eTILs prepared according to the methods described herein may be added to a population of rTILs to provide a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio in the resulting rTIL/eTIL mixture. In an ment, rTILs prepared according to the methods described herein may be added to a tion of eTILs to provide a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio in the resulting rTIL/eTIL mixture.

In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a cancer wherein the treatment comprises delivering a therapeutically ive amount of TILs to a patient, n the ratio of rTILs to eTILs in the TILs (e.g., a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio) is selected from the group consisting of about 0:100, about 1:99, about 5:95, about 10:90, about 15:85, about 20:80, about 25:75, about 30:70, about 35:65, about 40:60, about 45:55, about 50:50, about 55:45, about 60:40, about 65:35, about 70:30, about 75:25, about 80:20, about 85:15, about 90: 10, about 95:5, about 99:1, and about 100:0 rTIL to eTIL.

In an embodiment, the rTIL to eTIL ratio is adjusted using a selection method, which may be used to enrich or reduce rTILs relative to eTILs as required by the d artisan. In an embodiment, the selection method is based on the lack of exhaustion markers, including TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and . In an embodiment, the selection method is based on enhanced CD69 expression. In an embodiment, the selection method is based on superior mitochondrial mass. In an embodiment, the selection method is based on a subset of cell surface proteins. In an embodiment, the selection method is based on phenotype. In an embodiment, the ion method is based on function.

In an embodiment, the rTIL to eTIL ratio is adjusted by co-culturing rTILs and eTILs in the same cell culture medium until a desirable ratio is obtained. In an embodiment, the rTIL to eTIL ratio is adjusted by co-culturing rTILs and eTILs in the same cell e medium, including the addition of rTILs or eTILs to the cell culture medium at different timepoints during expansion, until a desirable ratio is obtained. In an embodiment, rTIL growth is preferentially expanded in the cell culture medium by addition of cytokines other than IL-2, including IL-4, IL- 7, IL-l5, and/or IL-21.

In an embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to eTlLs (e.g., a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio) provided by the methods described herein may be at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9% rTIL to eTIL.

In an embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to eTlLs (e.g., a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio) provided by the methods described herein may be at most 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9% rTIL to eTIL.

In an embodiment, the ratio of rTlLs to eTlLs (e.g., a selected rTIL to eTIL ratio) provided by the methods bed herein may be about 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, %, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, or 99.9% rTIL to eTIL. s of Treating Cancers and Other Diseases The rTILs and combinations of rTILs and eTlLs described herein may be used in a method for treating diseases in a human. In an embodiment, they are for use in treating a roliferative disorder. In some embodiments, the hyperproliferative disorder is cancer. In some ments, the hyperproliferative disorder is a solid tumor cancer. In some embodiments, the solid tumor cancer is selected from the group consisting of melanoma, double- WO 94167 refractory melanoma (1'.e., melanoma tory to at least two prior treatments including chemotherapy and checkpoint de), ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, cancer caused by human oma virus, head and neck , renal cancer, renal cell carcinoma, and sarcoma. In some embodiments, the hyperproliferative disorder is a hematological malignancy (or liquid tumor cancer). In some embodiments, the hematological malignancy is selected from the group consisting of acute d leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. The rTILs and ations of rTILs and eTILs described herein may also be used in treating other disorders as bed herein and in the following paragraphs.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, wherein the treatment comprises delivering a eutically effective amount of rTILs to a patient, wherein the rTILs are prepared according a method comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor inflltrating lymphocytes (TILs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas ble container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TILs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, and (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of t tumor infiltrating cytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell tion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine ed from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations f.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method sing: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the t, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a ne selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and ations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically ive amount of rTILs to the patient, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 n starting on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a t in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor , (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and nt TlLs (eTILs), (d) ng at least a ity of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and ations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and ations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTlLs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously stered to the patient in a mixture with the rTlLs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the t, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor t cells using a digest mixture, (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium sing cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable ner to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell tion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is ed from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a eloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTlLs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the t, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTlLs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen ng on the day after administration of the rTlLs to the patient, wherein the cancer is selected from the group consisting of melanoma, double-refractory melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, renal cell oma, acute myeloid leukemia, colorectal , sarcoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and triple ve breast cancer.

In an embodiment, the ion includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) ng at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) tically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas ble container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTlLs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and ations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to stering the rTlLs to the t, wherein the non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen comprises the steps of administration of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 60 day for two days followed by administration of fiudarabine at a dose of 25 mg/mZ/day for five days, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In some embodiments of the methods described herein, the step of removing at least a plurality of the eTILs includes removing at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, 8%, 9%, 10%, 11%, 12%, 13%, 14%, 15%, 16%, 17%, 18%, 19%, 20%, 21%, 22%, 23%, 24%, 25%, 26%, 27%, 28%, 29%, 30%, 31%, 32%, 33%, 34%, 35%, 36%, 37%, 38%, 39%, 40%, 41%, 42%, 43%, 44%, 45%, 46%, 47%, 48%, 49%, 50%, 51%, 52%, 53%, 54%, 55%, 56%, 57%, 58%, 59%, 60%, 61%, 62%, 63%, 64%, 65%, 66%, 67%, 68%, 69%, 70%, 71%, 72%, 73%, 74%, 75%, 76%, 77%, 78%, 79%, 80%, 81%, 82%, 83%, 84%, 85%, 86%, 87%, 88%, 89%, 90%, 91%, 92%, 93%, 94%, 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, 99.5%, 99.9%, or 100% ofthe eTILs.

Efficacy of the compounds and ations of compounds described herein in treating, preventing and/or managing the indicated diseases or ers can be tested using various models known in the art, which provide guidance for treatment of human disease. For example, models for determining efficacy of ents for ovarian cancer are bed, e.g., in Mullany, et al., Endocrinology 2012, 153, 1585-92, and Fong, et al., J. Ovarian Res. 2009, 2, 12.

Models for determining efficacy of treatments for atic cancer are described in Herreros- Villanueva, et al., World J. Gastroenterol. 2012, 18, 1286-1294. Models for determining efficacy of treatments for breast cancer are described, e.g., in Fantozzi, Breast Cancer Res. 2006, 8, 212. Models for determining efficacy of treatments for melanoma are bed, e.g., in Damsky, et al., Pigment Cell & ma Res. 2010, 23, 853—859. Models for determining efficacy of treatments for lung cancer are described, e.g., in sen, et al., Genes & Development, 2005, 19, 643-664. Models for determining efficacy of treatments for lung cancer are described, e.g., in Kim, Clin. Exp. Otorhinolaryngol. 2009, 2, 55-60, and Sano, Head Neck Oncol. 2009, I, 32. inistration of IL-2 In an embodiment, the invention provides a method of treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, comprising the steps of: (a) obtaining rTILs from a tumor resected from a patient according to a method described herein; (b) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative depletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient; (c) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient; and (d) treating the patient with an IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient.

In an embodiment; the IL-2 regimen comprises a high-dose IL-2 regimen; wherein the high-dose IL-2 regimen comprises aldesleukin; or a ilar or variant thereof; administered intravenously starting on the day after administering a eutically effective portion of the third population of TILs; wherein the aldesleukin or a biosimilar or variant thereof is administered at a dose of 600,000 or 0 IU/kg (patient body mass) using 15-minute bolus intravenous ons every eight hours until tolerance; for a maXimum of 14 doses. Following 9 days of rest; this schedule may be ed for another 14 doses; for a maXimum of 28 doses in total.

In an embodiment; the IL-2 regimen comprises a high-dose IL-2 regimen; wherein the high-dose IL-2 regimen comprises aldesleukin; or a biosimilar or variant f; administered intravenously starting on the day after administering a eutically effective n of the third population of TILs; wherein the aldesleukin or a biosimilar or variant f is administered at a dose of 0.037 mg/kg or 0.044 mg/kg IU/kg (patient body mass) using 15- minute bolus intravenous infusions every eight hours until tolerance; for a maXimum of 14 doses.

Following 9 days of rest; this schedule may be repeated for another 14 doses; for a maXimum of 28 doses in total.

In an embodiment; the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment; the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TlLs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue; (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TlLs (eTILs), (d) ng at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest (f) ing the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express d levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, n the T cell exhaustion marker is ed from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine ed from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, 1L-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the t with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a eutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a high-dose IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient, wherein the high-dose IL-2 regimen comprises 600,000 or 720,000 IU/kg of aldesleukin, or a biosimilar or variant thereof, stered as a 15-minute bolus intravenous infusion every eight hours until tolerance.

] In an embodiment, the IL-2 regimen comprises a decrescendo IL-2 regimen.

Decrescendo IL-2 regimens have been described in O’Day, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 1999, 17, 2752- 61 and Eton, er al., Cancer 2000, 88, 1703-9, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by nce. In an embodiment, a decrescendo IL-2 regimen comprises 18 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 6 hours, followed by 18 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 12 hours, followed by 18 X 106 IU/m2 stered intravenously over 24 hours, followed by 4.5 X 106 IU/m2 administered enously over 72 hours. This treatment cycle may be repeated every 28 days for a maximum of four cycles. In an embodiment, a decrescendo IL-2 regimen comprises 18,000,000 IU/m2 on day 1, 9,000,000 IU/m2 on day 2, and 000 IU/m2 on days 3 and 4.

] In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, wherein the tumor tissue comprises tumor rating lymphocytes (TILs), (b) nting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor remnants and emergent TILs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor remnant cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell e media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine ed from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and combinations thereof, (g) ng the patient with a non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient; (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a decrescendo IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient, n the decrescendo IL-2 n ses 18 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 6 hours, followed by 18 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 12 hours, followed by 18 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 24 hours, followed by 4.5 X 106 IU/m2 administered intravenously over 72 hours, repeated every 28 days for a maXimum of four cycles.

] In an embodiment, the IL-2 regimen comprises administration of pegylated IL-2, including pegylated eukin. In an embodiment, the IL-2 regimen comprises administration of pegylated IL-2 every 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 14 or 21 days at a dose of O. 10 mg/day to 50 mg/day.

In an embodiment, the invention includes a method treating a cancer in a patient in need of such ent, the method comprising: (a) obtaining tumor tissue from the patient, n the tumor tissue comprises tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), (b) fragmenting the tumor tissue, (c) treating the tumor tissue in a gas permeable container with a first cell culture medium and interleukin 2 (IL-2) to provide tumor ts and emergent TILs (eTILs), (d) removing at least a plurality of the eTILs, (e) enzymatically digesting the tumor remnants into tumor remnant cells using a digest mixture, (f) expanding the tumor t cells with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 dy, and IL-2 in a gas permeable container to provide an expanded number of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), wherein the rTILs express reduced levels of a T cell exhaustion marker relative to the eTILs, wherein the T cell exhaustion marker is selected from the group consisting of TIM3, LAG3, TIGIT, PD-l, and combinations thereof, and wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group ting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and combinations thereof, (g) treating the patient with a non-myeloablative depletion regimen prior to administering the rTILs to the patient, (h) administering a therapeutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs are simultaneously administered to the patient in a mixture with the rTILs, and (i) treating the patient with a pegylated IL-2 regimen starting on the day after administration of the rTILs to the patient, wherein the pegylated IL-2 regimen comprises administration of pegylated IL-2 every 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 14 or 21 days at a dose of 0.10 mg/day to 50 mg/day.

Non-Myeloablative Lymphodepletion with Chemotherapy In an embodiment, the invention includes a method of treating a cancer with a population of rTILs, wherein a patient is pre-treated with non-myeloablative herapy prior to an on of rTILs according to the ion. In some embodiments, the population of rTILs may be provided with a population of eTils, wherein a patient is eated with non- myeloablative chemotherapy prior to an infusion of rTILs and eTils according to the invention.

In an embodiment, the eloablative chemotherapy is cyclophosphamide 6O mg/kg/d for 2 days (days 27 and 26 prior to rTIL infusion) and fludarabine 25 mg/mZ/d for 5 days (days 27 to 23 prior to rTIL infusion). In an embodiment, after non-myeloablative chemotherapy and rTIL infusion (at day 0) ing to the invention, the patient receives an intravenous infusion of IL- 2 enously at 720,000 IU/kg every 8 hours to physiologic tolerance.

Experimental findings indicate that lymphodepletion prior to adoptive transfer of tumor-specific T lymphocytes plays a key role in ing treatment efficacy by eliminating regulatory T cells and competing elements of the immune system (“cytokine sinks”).

Accordingly, some embodiments of the ion utilize a lymphodepletion step (sometimes also referred to as osuppressive ioning”) on the patient prior to the introduction of the rTILs of the invention.

In l, lymphodepletion is achieved using administration of fludarabine or cyclophosphamide (the active form being ed to as mafosfamide) and combinations thereof.

Such methods are described in Gassner, el al., Cancer Immunol. Immunolher. 2011, 60, 75—85, Muranski, el al., Nat. Clin. Pract. 011001., 2006, 3, 668—681, Dudley, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2008, 26, 5233-5239, and Dudley, el al., J. Clin. Oncol. 2005, 23, 2346—2357, all ofwhich are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

In some embodiments, the fludarabine is administered at a concentration of 0.5 ug/mL - ug/mL fludarabine. In some embodiments, the fludarabine is administered at a concentration of l ug/mL fludarabine. In some embodiments, the fludarabine treatment is administered for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, or 7 days or more. In some embodiments, the fludarabine is stered at a dosage of 10 mg/kg/day, 15 mg/kg/day, 20 day, mg/kg/day, 30 mg/kg/day, 35 mg/kg/day, 40 day, or 45 mg/kg/day. In some embodiments, the fludarabine treatment is administered for 2-7 days at 35 mg/kg/day. In some embodiments, the fludarabine treatment is administered for 4-5 days at 35 day. In some embodiments, the fludarabine treatment is administered for 4-5 days at 25 mg/kg/day.

In some embodiments, the mafosfamide, the active form of cyclophosphamide, is obtained at a concentration of 0.5 ug/mL -10 ug/mL by administration of cyclophosphamide. In some embodiments, mafosfamide, the active form of cyclophosphamide, is obtained at a concentration of l ug/mL by administration of hosphamide. In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide treatment is administered for 1 day, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, 5 days, 6 days, or 7 days or more. In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide is administered at a dosage of 100 mg/mZ/day, l50 mg/mZ/day, l75 mg/mZ/day, 200 mg/mZ/day, 225 mg/mZ/day, 250 mg/mZ/day, 275 mg/mZ/day, or 300 mg/mZ/day. In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide is administered intravenously (i.v.) In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide ent is administered for 2-7 days at 35 mg/kg/day. In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide ent is administered for 4-5 days at 250 mg/mZ/day i.v. In some embodiments, the cyclophosphamide treatment is administered for 4 days at 250 day i.v.

In some embodiments, depletion is performed by administering the bine and the cyclophosphamide are together to a patient. In some embodiments, fludarabine is administered at 25 mg/mZ/day iv. and cyclophosphamide is administered at 250 mg/mZ/day i.v. over 4 days.

In an embodiment, the lymphodepletion is performed by administration of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 60 mg/mZ/day for two days ed by administration of fludarabine at a dose of 25 mg/mZ/day for five days.

Pharmaceutical Compositions, s, and Dosing Regimens In an embodiment, rTILs expanded using methods of the invention are administered to a patient as a pharmaceutical composition. In an embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is a suspension of rTILs in a e buffer. rTILs expanded using methods of the invention may be administered by any suitable route as known in the art. Preferably, the rTILs are administered as a single intra-arterial or intravenous infusion, which preferably lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Other suitable routes of administration include eritoneal, intrathecal, and intralymphatic administration.

In an embodiment, rTILs and eTILs ed using methods of the invention are stered to a patient as a pharmaceutical composition. In an embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition is a suspension of rTILs and eTILs in a sterile buffer. rTILs and eTILs expanded using s of the invention may be administered by any suitable route as known in the art. Preferably, the rTILs and eTILs are administered as a single intra-arterial or enous infusion, which preferably lasts approximately 30 to 60 minutes. Other suitable routes of administration include intraperitoneal, intrathecal, and intralymphatic administration.

Any suitable dose of rTILs can be administered. Preferably, from about 2.3 X 1010 to about 13 .7>< lO10 rTILs are administered, with an average of around 7. 8 X 1010 rTILs, particularly if the cancer is melanoma. In an embodiment, about 1.2>< 1010 to about 4.3 X1010 of rTILs are administered.

Any suitable dose of rTILs and eTILs can be stered. Preferably, from about 2.3 X 1010 to about l3.7>< lO10 rTILs and eTILs are administered, with an average of around 7 .8>< lO10 rTILs and eTILs, particularly if the cancer is ma. In an embodiment, about 1.2>< 1010 to about 4.3><1010 of rTILs and eTILs are administered.

In some ments, the number of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical itions ofthe invention is about 1x106, 2x106, 3x106, 4x106, 5x106, 6><106, 7x106, 8x1067 9><106,1><107,2><107,3><107,4><107,5><107,6><107,7><107,8><107,9><107,1><108,2><108,3><108, 4><108,5><108,6><108,7><108,8><108,9><108,1><109,2><109,3><109,4><109,5><109,6><109,7><109, 8><109,9><109,1><1010,2><1010,3><1010,4><1010,5><1010,6><1010,7><1010,8><1010,9><1010,1X10”, 2><1011,3><1011,4><1OH,5><1011,6><1011,7><1011,8><1011,9><1OH,1><1012,2><1012,3><1012,4><10127 ><1012,6><1012,7><1012,8><1012,9><1012,1><1013,2><1013,3><1013,4><1013,5><1013,6><1013,7><10137 8><1013, and 9><1013. In an embodiment, the number of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions ofthe invention is in the range of 1x106 to 5x106, 5x106 to 1x107, 1x107 to 5x1077 5x107 to 1x10", 1x108 to 5x10", 5x108 to 1x109, 1x109 to 5x109, 5x109 to 1x10“), 1x1010 to 5x10“), 5x1010 to 1x10“, 5x1011 to 1x10”, 1x1012 to 5x10”, and 5x1012 to 1x10”.

In some embodiments, the number of the rTILs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical itions of the invention is about l><lO6, 2><lO6, 3><106, 4><lO6, 5><106, 6><106,7><106,8><106,9><106,1><107,2><107,3><107,4><107,5><107,6><107,7><107,8><107,9><107, 1x108,2x108,3x108,4x108,5x108,6x108,7x108,8x108,9x108,1x109,2x109,3x109,4x109, ><109,6><109,7><109,8><109,9><109,1><1010,2><1010,3><1010,4><1010,5><1010,6><1010,7><1010, 8><1010,9><1010,1><1OH,2><1011,3><1011,4><1011,5><1011,6><1OH,7><10”,8><1011,9><1011,1><10127 2><1012,3><1012,4><1012,5><1012,6><1012,7><1012,8><1012,9><1012,1><1013,2><1013,3><1013,4><10137 5x10”, 6><1013, 7x10”, 8x10”, and 9x10”. In an embodiment, the number ofthe rTILs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is in the range of l>< 106 to 5x106, 5x106 to 1x107, 1x107 to 5x107, 5x107 to 1x10", 1x108 to 5x10", 5x108 to 1x109, 1x109 to 5x109, 5x109 to 1x10”, 1x1010 to 5><1010,5><1010tol><1011,5><1011tol><1012, l><1012to 5x10”, and 5x1012 to 1x10”.

] In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is less than, for example, 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, %, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, , 0.007%, 0.006%, 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, 0.001%, 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, 0.0006%, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, 0.0003%, 0.0002% or 0.0001% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTILs and eTILs provided in the ceutical compositions of the invention is less than, for example, 100%, 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 19%, 18%, 17%, 16%, 15%, 14%, 13%, 12%, 11%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, 0.008%, 0.007%, 0.006%, 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, 0.001%, 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, %, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, 0.0003%, 0.0002% or 0.0001% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTILs provided in the ceutical compositions of the invention is greater than 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 30%, 20%, 19.75%, 19.50%, 19.25% 19%, 18.75%, 18.50%, 18.25% 18%, 17.75%, 17.50%, 17.25% 17%, 16.75%, 16.50%, 16.25% 16%, 15.75%, 15.50%, 15.25% 15%, 14.75%, 14.50%, 14.25% 14%, 13.75%, 13.50%, 13.25% 13%, 12.75%, , 12.25% 12%, 11.75%, , 11.25% 11%, .75%, 10.50%, 10.25% 10%, 9.75%, 9.50%, 9.25% 9%, 8.75%, 8.50%, 8.25% 8%, 7.75%, 7.50%, 7.25% 7%, 6.75%, 6.50%, 6.25% 6%, 5.75%, 5.50%, 5.25% 5%, 4.75%, 4.50%, 4.25%, 4%, 3.75%, 3.50%, 3.25%, 3%, 2.75%, 2.50%, 2.25%, 2%, 1.75%, 1.50%, 125%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, 0.008%, 0.007%, , 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, , 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, 0.0006%, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, 0.0003%, 0.0002% or 0.0001% W/W, W/v, or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some ments, the concentration of the rTILs and eTILs provided in the ceutical compositions of the invention is greater than 90%, 80%, 70%, 60%, 50%, 40%, %, 20%, 19.75%, 19.50%, 19.25% 19%, 18.75%, 18.50%, 18.25% 18%, 17.75%, 17.50%, 17.25% 17%, 16.75%, 16.50%, 16.25% 16%, 15.75%, 15.50%, 15.25% 15%, , 14.50%, 14.25% 14%, 13.75%, 13.50%, 13.25% 13%, 12.75%, 12.50%, 12.25% 12%, 11.75%, 11.50%, 11.25% 11%, 10.75%, 10.50%, 10.25% 10%, 9.75%, 9.50%, 9.25% 9%, 8.75%, 8.50%, 8.25% 8%, 7.75%, 7.50%, 7.25% 7%, 6.75%, 6.50%, 6.25% 6%, 5.75%, 5.50%, 5.25% 5%, 4.75%, 4.50%, 4.25%, 4%, 3.75%, 3.50%, 3.25%, 3%, 2.75%, 2.50%, 2.25%, 2%, 1.75%, 1.50%, 125%, 1%, 0.5%, 0.4%, 0.3%, 0.2%, 0.1%, 0.09%, 0.08%, 0.07%, 0.06%, 0.05%, 0.04%, 0.03%, 0.02%, 0.01%, 0.009%, 0.008%, 0.007%, 0.006%, 0.005%, 0.004%, 0.003%, 0.002%, 0.001%, 0.0009%, 0.0008%, 0.0007%, 0.0006%, 0.0005%, 0.0004%, %, 0.0002% or 0.0001% w/w, w/v, or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is in the range from about 0.0001% to about 50%, about 0.001% to about 40%, about 0.01% to about 30%, about 0.02% to about 29%, about 0.03% to about 28%, about 0.04% to about 27%, about 0.05% to about 26%, about 0.06% to about 25%, about 0.07% to about 24%, about 0.08% to about 23%, about 0.09% to about 22%, about 0.1% to about 21%, about 0.2% to about 20%, about 0.3% to about 19%, about 0.4% to about 18%, about 0.5% to about 17%, about 0.6% to about 16%, about 0.7% to about 15%, about 0.8% to about 14%, about 0.9% to about 12% or about 1% to about 10% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

] In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTILs and eTILs ed in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is in the range from about 0.0001% to about 50%, about 0.001% to about 40%, about 0.01% to about 30%, about 0.02% to about 29%, about 0.03% to about 28%, about 0.04% to about 27%, about 0.05% to about 26%, about 0.06% to about 25%, about 0.07% to about 24%, about 0.08% to about 23%, about 0.09% to about 22%, about 0.1% to about 21%, about 0.2% to about 20%, about 0.3% to about 19%, about 0.4% to about 18%, about 0.5% to about 17%, about 0.6% to about 16%, about 0.7% to about 15%, about 0.8% to about 14%, about 0.9% to about 12% or about 1% to about 10% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical ition.

In some embodiments, the tration of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is in the range from about 0.001% to about 10%, about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.02% to about 4.5%, about 0.03% to about 4%, about 0.04% to about 3.5%, about 0.05% to about 3%, about 0.06% to about 2.5%, about 0.07% to about 2%, about 0.08% to about 1.5%, about 0.09% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.9% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical composition.

In some embodiments, the concentration of the rTlLs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention is in the range from about 0.001% to about 10%, about 0.01% to about 5%, about 0.02% to about 4.5%, about 0.03% to about 4%, about 0.04% to about 3.5%, about 0.05% to about 3%, about 0.06% to about 2.5%, about 0.07% to about 2%, about 0.08% to about 1.5%, about 0.09% to about 1%, about 0.1% to about 0.9% w/w, w/v or v/v of the pharmaceutical ition.

In some embodiments, the amount of the rTILs ed in the pharmaceutical compositions ofthe invention is equal to or less than 10 g, 9.5 g, 9.0 g, 8.5 g, 8.0 g, 7.5 g, 7.0 g, 6.5 g, 6.0 g, 5.5 g, 5.0 g, 4.5 g, 4.0 g, 3.5 g, 3.0 g, 2.5 g, 2.0 g, 1.5 g, 1.0 g, 0.95 g, 0.9 g, 0.85 g, 0.8 g, 0.75 g, 0.7 g, 0.65 g, 0.6 g, 0.55 g, 0.5 g, 0.45 g, 0.4 g, 0.35 g, 0.3 g, 0.25 g, 0.2 g, 0.15 g, 0.1 g, 0.09 g, 0.08 g, 0.07 g, 0.06 g, 0.05 g, 0.04 g, 0.03 g, 0.02 g, 0.01 g, 0.009 g, 0.008 g, 0.007 g, 0.006 g, 0.005 g, 0.004 g, 0.003 g, 0.002 g, 0.001 g, 0.0009 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0002 g, or 0.0001 g.

In some embodiments, the amount of the rTILs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the ion is equal to or less than 10 g, 9.5 g, 9.0 g, 8.5 g, 8.0 g, 7.5 g, 7.0 g, 6.5 g, 6.0 g, 5.5 g, 5.0 g, 4.5 g, 4.0 g, 3.5 g, 3.0 g, 2.5 g, 2.0 g, 1.5 g, 1.0 g, 0.95 g, 0.9 g, 0.85 g, 0.8 g, 0.75 g, 0.7 g, 0.65 g, 0.6 g, 0.55 g, 0.5 g, 0.45 g, 0.4 g, 0.35 g, 0.3 g, 0.25 g, 0.2 g, 0.15 g, 0.1 g, 0.09 g, 0.08 g, 0.07 g, 0.06 g, 0.05 g, 0.04 g, 0.03 g, 0.02 g, 0.01 g, 0.009 g, 0.008 g, 0.007 g, 0.006 g, 0.005 g, 0.004 g, 0.003 g, 0.002 g, 0.001 g, 0.0009 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0002 g, or 0.0001 g.

In some embodiments, the amount of the rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions ofthe invention is more than 0.0001 g, 0.0002 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0009 g, 0.001 g, 0.0015 g, 0.002 g, 0.0025 g, 0.003 g, 0.0035 g, 0.004 g, 0.0045 g, 0.005 g, 0.0055 g, 0.006 g, 0.0065 g, 0.007 g, 0.0075 g, 0.008 g, 0.0085 g, 0.009 g, 0.0095 g, 0.01 g, 0.015 g, 0.02 g, 0.025 g, 0.03 g, 0.035 g, 0.04 g, 0.045 g, 0.05 g, 0.055 g, 0.06 g, 0.065 g, 0.07 g, 0.075 g, 0.08 g, 0.085 g, 0.09 g, 0.095 g, 0.1 g, 0.15 g, 0.2 g, 0.25 g, 0.3 g, 0.35 g, 0.4 g, 0.45 g, 0.5 g, 0.55 g, 0.6 g, 0.65 g, 0.7 g, 0.75 g, 0.8 g, 0.85 g, 0.9 g, 0.95 g, 1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 2.5, 3 g, 3.5, 4 g, 4.5 g, 5 g, 5.5 g, 6 g, 6.5 g, 7 g, 7.5 g, 8 g, 8.5 g, 9 g, 9.5 g, or 10 In some embodiments, the amount of the rTILs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical itions of the invention is more than 0.0001 g, 0.0002 g, 0.0003 g, 0.0004 g, 0.0005 g, 0.0006 g, 0.0007 g, 0.0008 g, 0.0009 g, 0.001 g, 0.0015 g, 0.002 g, 0.0025 g, 0.003 g, 0.0035 g, 0.004 g, 0.0045 g, 0.005 g, 0.0055 g, 0.006 g, 0.0065 g, 0.007 g, 0.0075 g, 0.008 g, 0.0085 g, 0.009 g, 0.0095 g, 0.01 g, 0.015 g, 0.02 g, 0.025 g, 0.03 g, 0.035 g, 0.04 g, 0.045 g, 0.05 g, 0.055 g, 0.06 g, 0.065 g, 0.07 g, 0.075 g, 0.08 g, 0.085 g, 0.09 g, 0.095 g, 0.1 g, 0.15 g, 0.2 g, 0.25 g, 0.3 g, 0.35 g, 0.4 g, 0.45 g, 0.5 g, 0.55 g, 0.6 g, 0.65 g, 0.7 g, 0.75 g, 0.8 g, 0.85 g, 0.9 g, 0.95 g, 1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 2.5, 3 g, 3.5, 4 g, 4.5 g, 5 g, 5.5 g, 6 g, 6.5 g, 7 g, 7.5 g, 8 g, 8.5 g, 9 g, 9.5 g, or 10 g.

The rTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are effective over a wide dosage range. The exact dosage will depend upon the route of stration, the form in which the compound is administered, the gender and age of the subject to be treated, the body weight of the t to be treated, and the preference and experience of the attending physician. The clinically-established dosages of the rTILs may also be used if appropriate. The amounts of the pharmaceutical compositions administered using the methods , such as the dosages of rTILs, will be dependent on the human or mammal being treated, the severity of the disorder or condition, the rate of administration, the disposition of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and the discretion of the treating physician.

The rTILs and eTILs provided in the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention are effective over a wide dosage range. The exact dosage will depend upon the route of stration, the form in which the compound is administered, the gender and age of the subject to be treated, the body weight of the subject to be treated, and the preference and experience of the attending physician. The clinically-established dosages of the rTILs and eTILs may also be used if appropriate. The amounts of the pharmaceutical compositions stered using the methods herein, such as the s of rTILs and eTILs, will be dependent on the human or mammal being treated, the severity of the disorder or condition, the rate of administration, the disposition of the active pharmaceutical ingredients and the discretion of the treating physician.

In some embodiments, rTILs may be administered in a single dose. Such administration may be by injection, e.g., intravenous injection. In some embodiments, rTILs may be administered in le doses. Dosing may be once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, or more than siX times per year. Dosing may be once a month, once every two weeks, once a week, or once every other day. Administration of rTILs may continue as long as necessary.

In some embodiments, rTILs and eTILs may be administered in a single dose. Such administration may be by ion, e.g., intravenous injection. In some ments, rTILs may be administered in multiple doses. Dosing may be once, twice, three times, four times, five times, six times, or more than siX times per year. Dosing may be once a month, once every two weeks, once a week, or once every other day. Administration of rTILs and eTILs may continue as lOIlg as necessary.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of rTILs is about l><106, 2><106, 3><106, ,5><106,6><106,7><106,8><106,9><106,1><107,2><107,3><107,4><107,5><107,6><107,7><107, 8><107,9><107,1><108,2><108,3><108,4><108,5><108,6><108,7><108,8><108,9><108,1><109,2><109, 3><1O9,4><109,5><1O9,6><1O9,7><109,8><109,9><109,1><1010,2><1010,3><1010,4><1010,5><1010, 6><1010,7><1010,8><1010,9><1010,1><1011,2><1011,3><1011,4><1011,5><10H,6><1011,7><1011,8X10”, 9X10”,1><1012,2><1012,3><1012,4><1012,5><1012,6><1012,7><1012,8><1012,9><1012,1><1013,2><1013, ,4x1013, 3,6><1013,7><1013, 8><1013, and 9x10”. In some embodiments, an effective dosage ofrTILs is in the range of 1x106 to 5x106, 5x106 to 1x107, 1x107 to 5x107, 5x107 to 1x10", 1x108 to 5x10", 5x108 to 1x109, 1x109 to 5x109, 5x109 to 1x10”, 1x1010 to 5x10“), 5x1010 to 1x10“, 5x1011 to 1x10”, 1x1012 to 5x10”, and 5x1012 to 1x10”.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of rTILs and eTILs is about l>< 106, 2>< 106, 3><106,4><106,5><106,6><106,7><106,8><106,9><106,1><107,2><107,3><107,4><107,5><107,6><107, 7><107,8><107,9><107,1><108,2><108,3><108,4><108,5><108,6><108,7><108,8><108,9><108,1><109, 2><109,3><109,4><109,5><109,6><109,7><109,8><109,9><109,1><1010,2><1010,3><1010,4><1010, ><1010,6><1010,7><1010,8><1010,9><1010,1><1011,2><1011,3><1011,4><10H,5><1OH,6><1011,7><1OH, 8x10“,9x10“, 1x1012,2x1012,3x1012,4x1012, 5><1012,6><1012,7><1012, 8><1012,9><1012, 1x10”, 2x1013,3x1013,4x1013, 5><1013,6><1013,7><1013, 8><1013,and 9x10”. In some embodiments, an effective dosage of rTILs and eTILs is in the range of l>< 106 to 5><106, 5>< 106 to l>< 107, l>< 107 to 5x107, 5x107 to 1x10", 1x108 to 5x10", 5x108 to 1x109, 1x109 to 5x109, 5x109 to 1x10”, 1x1010 to 5x10“), 5x1010 to 1x10“, 5x1011 to 1x10”, 1x1012 to 5x10”, and 5x1012 to 1x10”.

In some embodiments, an ive dosage of rTlLs is in the range of about 0.01 mg/kg to about 4.3 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 3.6 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg/kg to about 3.2 mg/kg, about 0.35 mg/kg to about 2.85 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 2.85 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg to about 2.15 mg/kg, about 0.45 mg/kg to about 1.7 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 1.3 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg/kg to about 1.15 mg/kg, about 0.45 mg/kg to about 1 mg/kg, about 0.55 mg/kg to about 0.85 mg/kg, about 0.65 mg/kg to about 0.8 mg/kg, about 0.7 mg/kg to about 0.75 mg/kg, about 0.7 mg/kg to about 2.15 mg/kg, about 0.85 mg/kg to about 2 mg/kg, about 1 mg/kg to about 1.85 mg/kg, about 1.15 mg/kg to about 1.7 mg/kg, about 1.3 mg/kg mg to about 1.6 mg/kg, about 1.35 mg/kg to about 1.5 mg/kg, about 2.15 mg/kg to about 3.6 mg/kg, about 2.3 mg/kg to about 3.4 mg/kg, about 2.4 mg/kg to about 3.3 mg/kg, about 2.6 mg/kg to about 3.15 mg/kg, about 2.7 mg/kg to about 3 mg/kg, about 2.8 mg/kg to about 3 mg/kg, or about 2.85 mg/kg to about 2.95 mg/kg.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of rTlLs and eTILs is in the range of about 0.01 mg/kg to about 4.3 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 3.6 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg/kg to about 3.2 mg/kg, about 0.35 mg/kg to about 2.85 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 2.85 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg to about 2.15 mg/kg, about 0.45 mg/kg to about 1.7 mg/kg, about 0.15 mg/kg to about 1.3 mg/kg, about 0.3 mg/kg to about 1.15 mg/kg, about 0.45 mg/kg to about 1 mg/kg, about 0.55 mg/kg to about 0.85 mg/kg, about 0.65 mg/kg to about 0.8 mg/kg, about 0.7 mg/kg to about 0.75 mg/kg, about 0.7 mg/kg to about 2.15 mg/kg, about 0.85 mg/kg to about 2 mg/kg, about 1 mg/kg to about 1.85 mg/kg, about 1.15 mg/kg to about 1.7 mg/kg, about 1.3 mg/kg mg to about 1.6 mg/kg, about 1.35 mg/kg to about 1.5 mg/kg, about 2.15 mg/kg to about 3.6 mg/kg, about 2.3 mg/kg to about 3.4 mg/kg, about 2.4 mg/kg to about 3.3 mg/kg, about 2.6 mg/kg to about 3.15 mg/kg, about 2.7 mg/kg to about 3 mg/kg, about 2.8 mg/kg to about 3 mg/kg, or about 2.85 mg/kg to about 2.95 mg/kg.

In some embodiments, an effective dosage of rTlLs is in the range of about 1 mg to about 500 mg, about 10 mg to about 300 mg, about 20 mg to about 250 mg, about 25 mg to about 200 mg, about 1 mg to about 50 mg, about 5 mg to about 45 mg, about 10 mg to about 40 mg, about 15 mg to about 35 mg, about 20 mg to about 30 mg, about 23 mg to about 28 mg, WO 94167 2017/062219 about 50 mg to about 150 mg, about 60 mg to about 140 mg, about 70 mg to about 130 mg, about 80 mg to about 120 mg, about 90 mg to about 110 mg, or about 95 mg to about 105 mg, about 98 mg to about 102 mg, about 150 mg to about 250 mg, about 160 mg to about 240 mg, about 170 mg to about 230 mg, about 180 mg to about 220 mg, about 190 mg to about 210 mg, about 195 mg to about 205 mg, or about 198 to about 207 mg.

In some embodiments, an ive dosage of rTlLs and eTILs is in the range of about 1 mg to about 500 mg, about 10 mg to about 300 mg, about 20 mg to about 250 mg, about 25 mg to about 200 mg, about 1 mg to about 50 mg, about 5 mg to about 45 mg, about 10 mg to about 40 mg, about 15 mg to about 35 mg, about 20 mg to about 30 mg, about 23 mg to about 28 mg, about 50 mg to about 150 mg, about 60 mg to about 140 mg, about 70 mg to about 130 mg, about 80 mg to about 120 mg, about 90 mg to about 110 mg, or about 95 mg to about 105 mg, about 98 mg to about 102 mg, about 150 mg to about 250 mg, about 160 mg to about 240 mg, about 170 mg to about 230 mg, about 180 mg to about 220 mg, about 190 mg to about 210 mg, about 195 mg to about 205 mg, or about 198 to about 207 mg.

An effective amount of the rTlLs and/or eTILs may be administered in either single or multiple doses by any of the accepted modes of administration of agents having similar utilities, including by infusion into the bloodstream, infusion into a tumor, intra-arterial ion, intravenously, intraperitoneally, parenterally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, topically, by intranasal administration, by transplantation, or by inhalation.

EXAMPLES The embodiments encompassed herein are now described with reference to the following examples. These examples are provided for the purpose of illustration only and the disclosure encompassed herein should in no way be construed as being limited to these examples, but rather should be construed to encompass any and all variations which become t as a result of the teachings provided herein.

Example 1 — Expansion of rTILs from Tumor Digests Tumor ts were digested according to the following exemplary procedure. This procedure describes the digestion of a fresh human tumor sample into a , single-cell suspension, to obtain and isolate tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and may use DNase- Collagenase-Hyaluronidase (DCH) methods (as described herein) or MACS human tumor WO 94167 dissociation kit (TDK) (Miltenyi Biotech, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) digestion protocols for the dissociation of human tumors.

Preparation of the CMl + IL-2 working culture medium is as follows. Place 500 mL RPMI 1640, 200 mM L-glutamine, and 100 mL human AB serum in a water bath at 37°C to equilibrate for at least 30 s. Transfer the contents of this mixture from the water bath to a biosafety cabinet along with 1000X B-ME stock and 50 mg/mL gentamicin stock solution from the refrigerator. Remove 50 mL from the RPMI 1640, add: 50 mL human AB serum, 5mL 200 mM L-glutamine, 500 uL 1000X B-ME, and 500 uL 50 mg/mL gentamicin. To complete medium 1, add 500 uL of 6000 U/mL reconstituted human rh1L-2 (CellGeniX, Inc., outh, NH, USA).

The 10>< DCH stock solution is prepared using the following procedure, which is depicted in First, the volume ed to reconstitute each enzyme to obtain the desired working solution concentrations is calculated. For example, titute 150,000 U national units) of deoxyribonuclease in 15 mL to obtain a 10,000 U/mL g solution.

Aliquot leftover working solution. Reconstitute the lyophilized enzymes in an amount of sterile Hanks’ balanced salt solution (HBSS, Sigma H6648, Sigma-Aldrich Co., St. Louis, MO, USA, or lent) previously calculated above at room temperature. Remove any residual powder from the sides of the bottles and from the protective foil. Pipette up and down several times and swirl to ensure complete reconstitution. Add 100,000 U of DNase (deoxyribonuclease I from bovine pancreas, Sigma D5025 or equivalent), 1 g of collagenase (Sigma C5138 from Closlridium histolylicum or equivalent), and 100 mg of hyaluronidase (Type V from sheep testes, Sigma H6254 or lent) to a final volume of 100 mL sterile HBSS to obtain a 10>< triple enzyme ion stock solution for human tumors. Aliquot the remaining enzyme working solutions into 10,000 U/mL DNase, 10 mg/mL collagenase and 1 mg/mL hyaluronidase. The >< DCH stock solution at 100 mL final volume has the following concentrations: DNase I 1000 U/mL, collagenase 10 mg/mL, and hyaluronidase 1 mg/mL. The 10>< DCH stock solution is d to 1>< DCH in HBSS for tumor digestion.

Concurrently, for comparison of the DCH digest with MACS TDK, prepare the reagents included in the MACS TDK to manufacturer specifications, if desired. Thaw aliquots that have been stored at -20 0C at room temperature.

The tumor may be prepared for digestion as follows. Remove the tumor from its primary and secondary packaging and weigh the vial, record the mass, and transfer to a biosafety cabinet. Cut the tumor into fragments, or morcellate the tumor. Several fragments are selected to be used in the digestion protocol, and additional fragments are retained for histology and DNA extractions if desired.

An exemplary DCH-based tumor digestion procedure is depicted in and includes the following steps. The lO>< DCH stock solution must be diluted to a l>< working tration for digestions. Calculate the total volume needed for the digestion of the tumor, which is about 5 mL of solution per cm2 of tumor. Dilute the DCH working solution to l>< by adding 1 part DCH to 9 parts HBSS. Transfer tumor fragments to a 50 mL Flacon conical tube in the volume of HBSS calculated above. Add the amount of lO>< DCH ated above, cap the tube, and optionally seal. Transfer to the MACS tube rotator (Miltenyi h, Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) in a 37 oC, 5% C02 humidified incubator on constant rotation for l to 2 hours. atively, the tumor fragments can be digested at room temperature overnight, also with constant rotation. Attach a 0.70 um strainer to sterile Falcon l tube. Obtain the digestion from the incubator and using a pipette, and add all contents of the digestion to the strainer. Use the butt of a sterile syringe r to push any solid h the strainer. The tube is capped and contains DCH-digested rTILs. The cells may be washed to remove the digest cocktail, counted, and resuspended in media for REP expansion as described ere herein.

If a pre-REP step is desired to provide eTlLs for comparison with rTILs (as in the following Examples), seed G—REX flasks for pre-REP using the DCH-digested rTILs. Label the necessary number of G—REX lO flasks and add the digest. Add CMl + IL-2 to obtain 40 mL final volume. Place the flasks in a 5% C02 incubator at 37 0C with humidity. Cell counting and viability may be performed using a Nexcelom eter K2 using 40 uL of sample to 40 uL of acrydine orange and propidium iodide dual staining solution (AOPI) on, and count in ate for each digest or condition, diluting as needed. Mix samples well to avoid clumping, and pipette AOPI promptly before running each sample to ensure viability isn’t obfuscated by the cytotoxic effect of propidium iodide.

The DCH procedure described above was found to be surprisingly superior to the MACS TDK enzymatic digest mixture and procedure for several reasons. Three independent experiments using the MACS TDK mixture were performed. The first experiment was performed using a melanoma tumor, where a significant downregulation of the CD4+/CD8+ population in rTILs was observed by flow cytometry using the MACS system. Such an effect was not observed in DCH-digested rTILs, indicating that the MACS digest procedure may adversely affect the expression of surface s. In a second experiment, an estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) breast tumor was used, and the MACS digest let to the appearance of debris in the 24-well G—REX plate, whereas the DCH digest did led to clear material, ting poor digestion for the MACS enzyme cocktail.

Finally, a second digest of a different ER+/PR+ breast tumor using the MACS TDK enzymatic digest mixture and procedure led to both poor yield and viability of rTILs.

Example 2 — Phenotyp_ic Characterization of rTILs from Tumor Digests ] During the pre-REP, tumor-resident TILs emigrate as eTILs and erate. The length of the pre-REP used to prepare eTILs for comparison with rTILs may vary between 11-21 days, ing on cell growth. Residual tumor fragments (remnants) are normally discarded and the expanded eTIL are subjected to a REP with irradiated PBMC feeders, anti-CD3 and IL-2.

Viable TILs remaining in the tumor ts (rTILs) ing the P were investigated after digestion according to Example 1 as described above to assess their function and phenotype in comparison to eTILs.

Cell populations from the tumor remnants and P suspension (1'.e., the ed cell population) in melanoma, head and neck, breast, renal, pancreatic, lung and colorectal tumors (n=l7) were evaluated and compared. Interestingly, rTILs are consistently phenotypically distinct from eTILs, as determined herein and shown by differential expression of s markers ing LAG3, TIM-3, PD-l, CD69, CD45RO, CD27, CD56, CD57 and HLA-DR. A REP of the tumor remnant and pre-REP populations resulted in comparable expansion, but similar to the pre-REP results, the phenotypic signature varied between the two populations with respect to LAG3, THVI-3, HLA-DR and CD28.

The rTIL and eTIL obtained from melanoma, breast, renal, pancreatic, lung and colorectal tumors (11 = 9) were evaluated and compared. Tumor rTIL are consistently phenotypically distinct from eTIL, as determined by differential expression of s markers (Table 3 and .

TABLE 3. Summary of phenotypic characterization results for nine tumors.

Marker - CD56 Expression J“ + + + + + + + + eTIL 507/ 2832/ 36.95/ 1320/ 1498/ 1163/ 18.76/ 5. 6/15 144 1756 47 1543 3751 5036 19.6 rTIL 209/ 877/ 42.88/ 3437/ 1034/ 458.3/ 1.027 106 742 223.4 1167 2795 9.156/ *P-Values 0.05/ 0.05/ 0. 38/ 0. 11/ 0. 55/ 0.05/ 0.05/ (CD8/ 0.21 0.01 0.89 0.001 0.01 0.11 0.06 >“P-values represent the difference between rTlL and eTlL using students unpaired T test.

The fundamental differences in rTILs as compared to eTILs were increased CD69 expression (7-fold median fluorescence intensity (MFI) in CD4+) (p<.OOOl), diminished LAG3 expression d MFI in CD8+ T cells) (p < 0.05) and TIM3 sion (3- and 2-fold MFI in CD8+ and CD4+ T cells, respectively) (p < 0.05/0.0l), diminished CD154 expression (3-fold MFI in CD4+ T cells) (p < 0.01), and diminished CD56 expression (5%) (p < 0.05).

Surprisingly, a REP of rTILs and eTILs resulted in comparable expansion, similar to the pre- REP results, as described in Example 4. The phenotypic ure of rTILs was sustained after REP with fidelity with of expression to the dual levels of LAG3, TIM3, and CD28, as described in Example 4. Furthermore, since CD57 is a receptor associated with terminal differentiation, the results suggest that rTILs are less terminally differentiated than eTILs (i.e., less likely to die).

The results reported in and Table 3 show that eTIL and rTIL t ct yet consistent differences in phenotypic expression in various tumor histologies. Most notably, there was a reduction in the expression of the so called “exhaustion markers” (LAG3 and TIM3) in the rTIL. Interestingly, PD-l was similarly expressed in the eTIL and rTIL. Additionally, there was an enhancement in CD69 expression in the rTIL, compared to the eTIL, yet KLRGl was similar between the two tions (data not shown). This provides r evidence that the rTlL do not appear to be terminally differentiated, but phenotypically resemble tissue-resident effector memory T cells.

Collectively, these results have identified significant ences in the y of cell populations that remain in the tumor or expand and progress out of the tumor, and the signals associated with emigration and retention.

Example 3 — onal Characterization of rTILs from Tumor Digests T cell dysfunction is directly associated with a loss of mitochondrial function.

Sharping, el al., Immunity 2016, 45, 374-88. Moreover, the reprogramming of T cells to favor mitochondrial esis can increase intratumoral T cell persistence and function. Therefore, more lically active T cells are pivotal in mounting an efficient immune response to tumor.

In an effort to assess the eTIL and rTIL onally, eTIL and rTIL were compared in terms of metabolic capacity via Mitotracker and 2-(N-(7-nitrobenzoxa-l,3-diazolyl)amino) lucose (2-NBDG). 2-NBDG may be used to measure e uptake, but does not specify the primary metabolic process, 1'.e., full ion in the mitochondria or only glycolysis and generation of lactate. acker dye (ThermoFisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) may be used to measure mitochondrial mass. Comparison of the eTIL and rTIL by this approach demonstrated an enhancement in glucose update in the rTIL, as shown in This result is surprising because rTILs, being directly liberated from the tumor, are expected to be more glycolytic, however, when the mitochondrial mass the rTILs was assessed, they exhibited a slightly enhanced level of Mitotracker compared to the eTIL. These results demonstrate that rTIL were more metabolically active than eTIL, when expected to be less active, and suggest that the rTIL may have a greater capacity to amount an immune response to tumor than eTIL.

To further assess their functional capabilities, rTILs were stimulated overnight with brefeldin A and beads coated with anti-CD3, anti-CD28, and anti-CD137 antibodies (DYNABEADS, catalog no. lll62D, cially available from Fisher Scientific, Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) and IFN—y was measured. Cells were harvested and d intracellularly for IFN-y following permeabilization and assessed by flow cytometry. The results are shown in Cells were also stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate l3-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin to evaluate the lity of TILs to produce cytokine. The results are also shown in Granzyme B, TNF-oc and IL-l7A levels were also assessed. There was negligible IL-l7A, and no differences in TNFoc or granzyme B between rTILs and eTILs (data not shown).

Surprisingly, a slightly elevated level of IFN—y in the CD4+ subset (but not in CD8+ T cells) was observed (11 = 3) in the anti-CD3/anti-CD28/anti-CDl37 bead and PMA/ ionomycin conditions in rTILs compared to eTILs. This data suggests that rTILs are functionally competent cells, and show evidence of greater functional competence that eTILs.

Example 4 — Comparison of REP of rTILs and eTILs from Tumor Digests eTILs and rTILs were subjected to a rapid expansion protocol (REP) with irradiated PBMC feeders, D3 antibody (OKT3), and IL-2 for 14 days. Viability and cells counts were assessed in duplicate in 3 ndent tumors (11 = 3). ypic expression was assessed by flow try. Successful initiation in mini-REP experiments was observed for both rTILs and eTILs. The REP performance of the TILs with anti-CD3 antibody and feeders was similar (), although the rTILs surprisingly exhibited a slightly enhanced number of cells (p < 0.08), compared to the eTIL. As observed prior to REP (see Example 2), the eTILs and rTILs obtained post-REP were phenotypically distinct. Many of the phenotypic differences observed in the pre-REP were preserved during the REP, such as a reduction in LAG3 and TIM3 expression in the rTIL ().

Additional properties of eTILs and rTILs may be compared based on the results of (1) deep TCR sequencing, (2) co-culture proliferation (rTIL/eTIL co-culture with ne mixtures) and additional functional assays, (3) assays for transcriptional ng (e.g., using a NanoString Technologies NCOUNTER system). TCR cing may assess the ity and/or diversity of the TCR repertoire, including Vb repertoire. Telomere length may also be assessed to compare rTILs to eTILs.

Example 5 — Treatment of Human Disease with rTILs and ations of rTILs and eTILs ] The rTILs of the invention may be used in the treatment of cancers as described herein.

An overall process flow diagram for the expansion of rTILs from a patient tumor and treatment of a patient is depicted in The process allows for tailoring of the rTIL to eTIL ratio in the TIL product infused to the patient as shown. The ratio of rTIL to eTIL may be selected by way of an affinity assay or other cell sorting assay known by persons having ordinary skill in the art based on the differential expression of CD69 and/or T-cell tive markers in rTILs and eTILs.

In a timeline showing an exemplary process of obtaining rTILs from a patient tumor, expanding the rTILs from tumor remnants after pre-REP using a REP stage, performing lymphodepletion, and infusion of rTILs into a patient is shown in conjunction with a parallel eTIL process.

Example 6 — Study to Assess the Vlfi Repertoire in eTIL and rTIL The eTIL and rTIL were assessed for differences in the VB T cell receptor repertoire, with respect to diversity and frequency.

In the study, 6 pre-REP eTIL/rTIL pairs were ted from the following histologies: n cancer, renal cancer (n=2), and breast cancer (TNBC n=2, ER+PR+ n=l). The cell pellets were shipped on dry ice to iRepertoire (Huntsville, AL, USA) for RNA tion and VB cing.

The results of this study are illustrated in FIGS. 9-10 and 14-16. In particular, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate the diversity score and the % of shared CDR3 s, respectively. rmore, three clonotype graphs g the top shared 50 CDR3s are shown in FIGS. 14, 15, and 16 for ovarian carcinoma, renal carcinoma, and triple negative breast carcinoma, respectively.

Surprisingly, the diversity of the TCRvB repertoire is greater in the rTIL than in the eTIL (. Approximately 30-50% of the total CDR3 in the eTIL and rTIL are shared (), trating that a large percentage of the total CDR3’s are differentially expressed in the two populations. However, of the shared CDR3s the top 50 clones were mostly shared between the two populations, suggesting that eTIL and rTIL have clones with similar antigen city (see FIGS. 14-16). Moreover, the frequency of the top 50 clones varied, suggesting again that the eTIL and rTIL are surprisingly distinct T cell populations.

Example 7 — Study of Co-Culture Proliferation Assays The eTIL and rTIL were ed determine whether the rTIL can alter the proliferation status of the eTIL, upon co-culture (or vice versa).

In the study, 5 pre-REP eTIL/rTIL pairs were harvested from the following histologies: renal cancer, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), melanoma, lung , and colorectal . The rTIL were isolated from the tumor remnants by a 60-min enzymatic digestion at 37°C. eTIL were stained with Cell Trace Yellow and rTIL with Cell Trace Red to independently track the two distinct tions. 166 of 6TIL, 565 6TIL + 565 rTIL, and 166 rTIL were cultured for 4 days at 37°C with IL-2 +/- and OKT3 (anti-CD3 antibody) and ed for proliferation by flow cytometry.

The results of this study are illustrated in . In , the 6TIL from either the CD4+ or CD8+ population in all five tumors trated an ement in the erative capacity upon co-culture with rTIL with anti-CD3 antibody as demonstrated by a shift (or dye on) in the Cell Trace dye, when compared to 6TIL alone. The red represents the 6TIL and the blue represents the 6TIL when co-cultured with the rTIL.

Example 8 — Study of Co-Culture Proliferation Assays ] The 6TIL and rTIL were assessed identify similarities and/or differences in the gene expression profile of rTIL and 6TIL.

In the study, Nanostring’s nCounter technology was utilized, which employs a color- coded barcode multiplexed to mRNA to deliver a digital readout of gene expression. Purified RNA (RNeasy, Qiagen) from six matched 6TIL and rTIL samples were hybridized with an nCounter Immunology V2 panel codeset for 16 hours on a thermocycler. Codesets consist of a mixture of capture and er probes that are multiplexed with the target RNA through 22bp interactions during thermocycling. Samples were loaded into a 12-well SPRINT cartridge and ran on an nCounter SPRINT device. Count data are exported in a custom RCC format and matched to an RLF file which matches gene names to probe IDs. Normalization and analysis were done on nSolver 3.0 (NanoString Technologies, Inc.).

The results of this study are illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the gene expression profile is significantly different when ing the 6TIL and rTIL (see the heat map in ). There are several genes that are significantly upregulated or downregulated in the rTIL compared to the 6TIL ().

Claims (18)

1. Use of remnant tumor rating lymphocytes (rTILs) in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a cancer in a patient in need of such treatment, wherein the rTILs are obtained by the method comprising: obtaining a therapeutically effective amount of remnant tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (rTILs), by enzymatically digesting tumor remnants separated from emergent tumor infiltrating lymphocytes ) using a digest e comprising a deoxyribonuclease, a collagenase, a hyaluronidase, or a combination thereof, and ing the rTILs with a second cell culture medium comprising cell culture media, irradiated feeder cells, OKT-3 antibody, and interleukin 2 (IL-2), n the tumor remnants and the eTILs are derived from tumor tissue that was previously obtained from the patient, fragmented and treated with a first cell culture medium comprising IL-2, and wherein treatment comprises administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the rTILs to the patient.

2. The use of claim 1, wherein the tumor tissue is selected from the group consisting of melanoma tumor tissue, head and neck tumor tissue, breast tumor tissue, renal tumor tissue, pancreatic tumor tissue, glioblastoma tumor tissue, lung tumor tissue, colorectal tumor tissue, sarcoma tumor tissue, triple negative breast tumor tissue, cervical tumor tissue, ovarian tumor tissue, and acute myeloid leukemia bone marrow or tumor .

3. The use of claim 1, n the irradiated feeder cells comprise irradiated allogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

4. The use of claim 1, wherein IL-2 is present in the second cell culture medium at an l concentration of about 3000 IU/mL and OKT-3 antibody is present in the second cell culture medium at an initial concentration of about 30 ng/mL.

5. The use of claim 1, n CD56+ sion in the rTILs is reduced by at least 3-fold relative to CD56+ expression in the eTILs.

6. The use of claim 1, wherein CD69+ expression in the rTILs is increased by at least 2-fold relative to CD69+ expression in the eTILs.

7. The use of claim 1, wherein the first cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and ations thereof.

8. The use of claim 1, wherein the second cell culture medium further comprises a cytokine selected from the group consisting of IL-4, IL-7, IL-15, IL-21, and combinations thereof.

9. The use of claim 1, wherein the rTILs are cryopreserved prior to obtaining the rTILs.

10. The use of claim 9, further comprising the step of thawing the cryopreserved rTILs prior to ing the rTILs.

11. The use of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: administration of a eloablative lymphodepletion regimen to the patient prior to administration of the therapeutically ive amount of rTILs to the patient; administration of a high-dose IL-2 regimen to the patient starting on the day after administration of the eutically effective amount of rTILs to the patient.

12. The use of claim 11, wherein a therapeutically effective amount of eTILs is simultaneously obtained in a mixture with the therapeutically effective amount of rTILs.

13. The use of claim 11, wherein the non-myeloablative lymphodepletion regimen comprises the steps of stration of cyclophosphamide to the patient at a dose of 60 mg/m2/day for two days ed by administration of fludarabine to the patient at a dose of 25 mg/m2/day for five days.

14. The use of claim 11, wherein the high-dose IL–2 regimen comprises 600,000 or 720,000 IU / kg of aldesleukin, or a biosimilar or variant thereof, stered to the patient as a 15-minute bolus intravenous infusion every eight hours until tolerance.

15. The use of claim 1, wherein the cancer is selected from the group ting of melanoma, double–refractory melanoma, uveal melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, lung cancer, bladder cancer, breast cancer, head and neck cancer, renal cell carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, colorectal cancer, and sarcoma.

16. The use of claim 15, wherein the cancer is breast cancer, and wherein the breast cancer is selected from the group consisting of triple negative breast cancer , estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer, and estrogen receptor-positive/progesterone receptor-positive breast cancer.

17. The use of claim 15, n the cancer is lung cancer, and the lung cancer is selected from the group ting of non-small cell lung cancer and small cell lung cancer.

18. The use of claim 1, wherein the therapeutically effective amount of rTILs is provided in a pharmaceutical composition, wherein the concentration of the rTILs in the pharmaceutical composition is greater than 50 %. auuuuuuuu'uuu, I,I,II,I,II,”Innnnnnnnn,”\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \kn“ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ ,u'uuuuuuuuuuu, . ,u'uuuuuuuuuuu, Ill/II/ ,III,I,II,I,II,”Innnnnnnnn,’ mm““WNW“ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\v \xxxxxxxx\xxxxxxxx-nx-nxxxx-nx-m‘xx xxxx{\xxxxxxxx\xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxkxx-n uuuuuuuuu'uuu, : 3 ~ \ . \ . \ . \ . \ . \ x: \ a“: S . \ . \ . \ . \ . \ . \ . \ . \ ksss \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ “\ \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\‘ L\\\\\\ sss\s\s\s\ss\s\s\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ \s‘s‘é rnurnrnnnnnnnn rIrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr munuuu‘“ ““‘u‘u‘u‘a ‘xxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxx , ‘ xxx \xxxxxxxx \\\\\\\\\\\\ w. x\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\;M 4Idummy, 5/aaaaaaa5 .2 l.w "4. runny” o \ “ ‘ xxxv\\\\\\\\:\{{\““\\“‘\“ zunnannannunuu~« ««««««««««« 55‘ {3055 m xQt: “£3 u Q a Q oN E: , £3 ‘ \ w i “‘ ,N E E: % “ x m__v c W; g .23 E: . e o‘ . I x E: 33m 3 {cm *} ‘T. i mA3 (xcaafl. sR mw v‘ m . w! Q m§vuv .§xx $5.,“ \\\\\\\ mw i n i :a\v 3:“: \\\\\\\ v .\\» ‘Q m \“ GS me a x9. \\\\\\\ «Mia» “was." t i o . xx a .,\xxxxxxm x \\ 3 {cmfi m .x 3 . a A.‘m "32.3,. m . 3 Hu u \\\\\\\\\\ a ..\.w, a ~.mw.~.m&m \\\\\\\\\\ I a §§I§§§Ra \\\\\\\\\\ I fix» m ¢ p mm, , a P 333‘! {634+} .{ Ca, M.“ C w“\n h. i # ml t wy.“ ..u « v .. «335. u. ‘ ‘ $3 h~ ,~‘‘m‘ m AN. I! 3‘“ 6%1 A mg:“a x, §»« 33$ a,. h \\~ a , \ gig c {153:6mm a Bs8 .35c a Maxxxxxxx*xxxxxxx‘xxxxxxxaxxxxxxx ‘iiiuiufliiuiiioiuiiii Q «uR my@ m “$3“ 3 fan. .Mw 1 mg_. .. xw Svax . sw § w Lm . . «.3» D g I mfl“ a whmmhmh x gnnnnnmmh xxmnmw a.»m ‘9‘ c as “s {8 am ”.1 , {éC,a 8 s, . wK as. t nR a R a n 3 FE». x u‘ .9 we“, .. .323 «“39 wa m. o 3 \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ MakmsmmmSWNW(“mean r‘tifi amam; wuss swam 8:13:33“ ‘f‘tast: we»: «Mm 913.86%. a mam: asset aw smsszimg simzt‘snzsmna me dam‘iy ‘Ezwnsm steam J ‘9 A 1 it 3 mm: 3w: A g ‘ a: mm j 293 - 9 éM. is: 777777777777777777777711‘ ,,,,,,,, ‘ z7>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>zz’ iwis paaaaaaaaay ;aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaav 444444444444444444444444’ ML (3‘?! L m3. N35» *5? 3” a, m*5» 3‘9““ ‘ seam: 1 may E x.