Adoptive T-cell therapy combined with intra-lesional administrations of TG1042 (adenovirus expressing interferon-γ) in metastatic melanoma patients

e20022 Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of adding intra-tumoral injections of TG1042 (Adenovirus 5 expressing Interferon-γ) to adoptive T cell therapy in patients with advanced stage melanoma. Methods: This was a monocentric phase I/II study. The main inclusion criteria were: stage IIIc/IV melanoma, age 18 to 75, at least one injectable metastasis. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) produced from a surgical biopsy of a lesion were infused on days 1 and 29 followed by IL2 injections (6M UI daily) for 10 days. TG1042 was injected at the dose of 5x1010 viral particles per lesion (in up to 6 lesions) every 2 weeks from day -15 to month 2 and then every month up to month 11 or progression. Primary objective was the safety of the procedure; secondary objectives included response according to RECIST and translational research. Results: Eighteen patients have been included. The TILs production was successful in 16 of them. Minor erythema at the TG1042 injection site as well as minor to moderate flu-like symptoms linked to IL2 injections were the most frequent adverse events observed. No grade 3 or 4 treatment related adverse events was recorded. Among the 13 patients evaluable for tumor response 4 patients (31%) had an overall objective response (2 complete, 2 partial), 1patient had a stable disease and 8 progressed. When considering only the injected lesions 6 (46%) had an objective response (3 complete, 3 partial), 3 had a stable disease and 4 progressed. Distant responses in non-injected lesions were observed for 2 patients. Translational research on cutaneous biopsies before and after injections (3 months) showed an increase of CD8 T lymphocytes, IFN-γ and STAT 1 expression in 3 patients. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that co-delivery of TILs and intra lesional TG1042 is feasible and safe. Stimulation of innate immunity by adenovirus expressing interferon-γ could contribute to reverse the immunotolerant profile of the tumour environment. These results support to further explore combined immunotherapies in the treatment of melanoma. Clinical trial information: NCT01082887.