Fig.

Generation of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. Methodologies for generating tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes were pioneered by the Surgery Branch of the NCI/NIH. Tumor is first harvested from the patient, dissected into fragments, and then cultured with IL-2 for 2–4 weeks until the lymphocytes reach 30–50 million in number. After lymphocytes are tested against tumor cells, they undergo a 2-week rapid expansion to achieve a goal of at least 1 billion cells, which are then infused into the patient.