A research team has identified the basis for tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for ovarian cancer.

Published in SCIENCE CHINA Life Sciences, the study reveals that TCF7-expressing T cells with autologous tumour reactivity are effectively expanded ex vivo.

Despite FDA approval for melanoma, TIL therapy against ovarian cancer is still under investigation.

Using paired scRNA/TCR-seq analysis of patient-derived TILs, the researchers discovered that three tumour-reactive TCF7⁺ T cell subpopulations exhibit selective expansion during TIL production, including CD8⁺TCF7⁺ Tpex, TCF7⁺GZMK⁺ early Tem and CD4⁺TCF7⁺ Tfh cells.

Crucially, CD8⁺TCF7⁺ Tpex cells demonstrate self-renewal capacity and generate stem-like progenies.

Furthermore, the team found that CCR7 and CD200 co-expression identifies tumour-reactive T cells with optimal therapeutic potentials.

Targeting tumour-infiltrating CCR7⁺CD200⁺ T cells enriches stem-like, tumour-reactive T cells, which may promote the persistence and tumour specificity in current TIL therapy.

These findings suggest actionable strategies for next-generation TIL therapies.

Source: Science China Press