Definition

A treatment used for adults with melanoma that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be removed by surgery. It is used in patients whose cancer did not get better after treatment with an antibody that blocks PD-1 (and treatment with a BRAF inhibitor, for those with a BRAF mutation). It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Amtagvi is made using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (a type of immune cell that can recognize and kill tumor cells) from a patient’s tumor. These lymphocytes are tested in the laboratory to find out which ones best recognize the tumor cells. The selected lymphocytes are then grown in large numbers in the laboratory and given back to the patient to help the immune system kill the tumor cells. Amtagvi is a type of cellular immunotherapy called tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy. Also called lifileucel.