Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Adjuvant Therapy of Melanoma

The objective of this multicentric Phase III study is to confirm the results of the phase I-II study (Dreno B \& Al. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2002; 51: 539-456) which demonstrated the preventive effect of a treatment by TIL (Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes) combined with IL2 (Interleukin 2; low dose injected subcutaneously) on the metastatic relapse in the stage III melanoma patients with only one invaded lymphnode.

In this open, multicentric (Grenoble, Montpellier, Nantes, Angers, Caen, Le Mans, Poitiers, Rennes, Tours) randomized study, selected patients with only one invaded lymphnode confirmed by anatomopathological exam will be randomized to one of the following arms: 1-Control group: patients of this group will not receive any treatment and will have the same clinical follow-up as the treated group. 2- TIL-IL2 group: treated patients will receive two injections of TIL combined with IL2. Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes will be obtained from a small piece of tumour tissue removed from the invaded lymphnode after surgery. TIL will be grown in larger number in laboratory during 6 weeks. Patients randomized in treatment arm will receive two injection of TIL (the first about 6 and the second about 10 weeks post-surgery). Administration of TIL will be combined with a low dose of IL2 (6 million U.I. per day) injected subcutaneously from J1 to J5 and J8 to J12 following the day of TIL infusion. The same dose and duration of IL2 treatment will be used for the second injection of TIL performed one month later. After 2 months adjuvant therapy, patients received no other treatment. Only a regular follow-up was performed.