Publication date: Jan 14, 2026
Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have shown promise in cancer immunotherapy, yet their clinical application and developmental trajectory remain insufficiently characterized. In this study, we conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive analysis of interventional clinical trials investigating TIL therapies for cancer treatment registered on ClinicalTrials. gov up to December 31, 2024. Trial characteristics, temporal trends, and treatment strategies were systematically assessed. Among 177 eligible trials, the vast majority were early-phase studies enrolling small patient cohorts. Malignant melanoma was the most frequently studied tumor type. North America conducted the largest number of trials overall, while recent years have seen rapid growth in trial activity and industry sponsorship, particularly in Asia. Cytokine support and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were the most common combination strategies. Since 2017, increasing interest has been observed in TIL monotherapy and in TIL-ICI combinations. Genetically engineered TIL trials were less likely to incorporate cytokine support or non-myeloablative chemotherapy, whereas selectively expanded TIL trials more frequently evaluated radiotherapy as a combination strategy. Overall, clinical trials of TIL therapy have primarily focused on early-phase exploration. Cytokines and ICIs remain the predominant combination approaches, while the use of TIL monotherapy has emerged as a growing trend. Continued research efforts and clinical investigation are essential to support the broader and more standardized application of TIL-based therapies in cancer treatment.
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | tumor |
| disease | MESH | Malignant melanoma |