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

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