🏛️ Verified NIH Record • Updated 2026-08-19

A Phase 2 Trial for Metastatic Melanoma Using Adoptive Cell Therapy With Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes Plus IL-2 Either Alone or Following the Administration of Pembrolizumab (NCT02621021)

A Phase II Trial for Metastatic Melanoma Using Adoptive Cell Therapy With Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes Plus IL-2 Either Alone or Following the Administration of Pembrolizumab

🟢 Recruiting Phase2 💊 Investigational Drug / Biologic Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

🩺 Plain-English Summary (8th-Grade Level)

Background: Cell therapy is an experimental cancer therapy. It takes young tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (Young TIL) cells from a person s tumors and grows them in a lab. Then they are returned to the person. Researchers think adding the drug pembrolizumab might make the therapy more effective. Objective: To test if adding pembrolizumab to cell therapy is safe and effective to shrink melanoma tumors. Eligibility: People ages 18-72 years with metastatic melanoma OF THE SKIN Design: Participants will be screened with: Physical exam CT, MRI, or PET scans X-rays Heart and lung function tests if indicated Blood and urine tests Before treatment, participants will have: A piece of tumor taken from a biopsy or during surgery in order to grow TIL cells Leukapheresis: Blood flows through a needle in one arm and into a machine that removes white blood cells. The rest of the blood returns through a needle in the other arm. An IV catheter placed in the chest for getting TIL cells, aldesleukin, and pembrolizumab (if assigned) Participants will stay in the hospital for treatment. This includes: Daily chemotherapy for 1 week For some participants, pembrolizumab infusion 1 day after chemotherapy TIL cell infusion 2-4 days after chemotherapy, then aldesleukin infusion every 8 hours for up to 12 doses Filgrastim injections to help restore your blood counts Recovery for 1-3 weeks After treatment, participants will: Take an antibiotic and an antiviral for at least 6 months, as applicable If assigned, have pembrolizumab treatment every 3 weeks for 3 more doses. They may have another round. Have 2-day follow-up visits every 1-3 months for 1 year and then every 6 months

Who can join: Review the eligibility criteria below.

Location: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland

Age range: 18 Years to 72 Years

📋 "Do I Qualify?" — 1-Minute Self Screener

Instant Checklist

Full eligibility criteria are available on the official NIH protocol. View the criteria ↗

📍 All Participating Trial Locations (1 Sites)

  • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland

📞 Contact the Study Coordinator

Phone: (866) 820-4505

Email: IRC@nih.gov

Coordinator details come directly from the registered NIH protocol. Confirm the study is still recruiting before traveling.

💰 Cost, Insurance & Patient Rights

  • 100% Free Items: The investigational treatment and protocol-required procedures are supplied at zero cost by the sponsor.
  • Routine Patient Care: Under federal law (ACA § 2709) and many state statutes, routine care costs are covered during participation.
  • Voluntary Participation: You may withdraw at any time without affecting your standard medical care.

Explore by condition: All Melanoma clinical trials

💡 How to Participate

  1. Check the checklist above to see if you may qualify.
  2. Contact the study coordinator using the phone/email above.
  3. Ask about the visit schedule, what is covered at no cost, and any travel support.
  4. Confirm with your own doctor before making a decision.
🏛️ View Official NIH Record ↗