title: Analysis of Vδ1 T cells in clinical grade melanoma-infiltrating lymphocytes.
abstract: γδ T cells, including Vδ1 and Vδ2 T cells, can recognize tumor-associated ligands neglected by conventional αβ T cells in a MHC-independent manner. Little is known regarding the anticancer potential and the possibility to isolate and expand Vδ1 T cells to therapeutically relevant numbers. In this study, we have detected low frequencies of Vδ1 T cells among tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) products for adoptive cell transfer generated from melanoma metastases. An increased frequency of Vδ1 T cells was found among the cell products from patients with an advanced disease stage. Vδ1 T cells displayed in vitro antitumor activities and sufficient proliferative potential to generate over 1 × 10(9) cells using current protocols for T cell transfer. Infusion of Vδ1 T cells together with high numbers of αβ TILs in a clinical trial was safe and well tolerated. These data suggest that Vδ1 T cells should be further scrutinized as a potentially useful tool for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Center for Cancer Immune Therapy; Department of Haematology; Copenhagen University Hospital at Herlev; Herlev, Denmark ; Department of Biomedical Sciences; University of Catania; Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donia
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ellebaek
authors.forename: Mads Hald
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Per Thor
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Straten
authors.forename: Inge Marie
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Svane