SEAMLESS: Second generation Adoptive cell therapy using MoLEcular growth SwitcheSss

Within the UK, melanoma incidence rates have increased more rapidly than any of the 10 most common cancers in the past 30 years, with a 518% increase in males & 253% in females. Best in-class immunotherapy for metastatic melanoma is checkpoint inhibitors (nivolumab, ipilimumab) however limitations such as high chance or relapse, high cost & severe toxicity create a demand for new improved treatments. An alternative approach under development is T-Cell therapy, specifically in relation to melanoma treatment Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) hold great promise with positive results in early clinical trials, they target cancer specific mutations & are thus truly specific reducing risk of autoimmune toxicities. TIL therapy however requires supportive treatments which give rise to toxicity and leave patients in an immunocompromised state. During this project Cellular Therapeutics Limited (CTL) will address this challenge by developing a novel TIL therapy which uses an optimised receptor to abolish the need for pre-conditioning & supportive IL2 => little/no toxicity. It will be a one-off treatment which has improved response rates towards the receptor agonist in absence of IL2 which is currently used to engraft cells & has the ability to selectively expand cells in the patient => enhancing the efficacy & increasing durability.