Fig. 5: Tumor-reactive TILs control tumor growth in xenograft models.

a–d Frequency of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells of 4 tr-TILs samples during in vitro expansion. e Experimental schema of in vivo studies. f–i Kaplan Meier curves showing survival of nude mice treated with a dose escalation of tr-TILs. Four different TILs were tested (TIL 240, TIL 247, TIL 254, TIL 273). Control mice were treated with PBMCs or left untreated (control TILs - cTs). Comparisons between groups were performed using the log-rank (Mantel–Cox) test. j–l Expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD137 on tr-TILs isolated and analyzed 3, 6, and 24 h after intracranial injection of 0.75 × 10⁶ (j), 1.5 × 10⁶ (k), and 5 × 10⁶ (l) in xenograft models. Data are presented as mean ± SD from 5 mice per group (n = 5), and statistical significance was assessed using a two-tailed paired t test. m Expression of the activation markers CD69 and CD137 on tr-TILs (n = 4) during in vitro co-cultures at 24, 48, and 72 h. Data are presented as mean ± SD, and statistical significance was assessed using a two-tailed paired t test. n, o Representative MRI performed with T2-weighted images (T2-wi) and T1-weighted images (T1-wi) with contrast agent (ca) (n) on control and (o) TIL-treated xenograft mice; a total of 12 mice/condition were studied. p Bar graph showing the tumor volume measured using MRI and expressed as mm³ (controls vs TIL-treated mice). Data are presented as mean ± SD from 7 mice per group (n = 7) and statistical significance was assessed using a two-tailed unpaired t test. Full numerical data and comprehensive details of statistical analyses are available in the corresponding source data tables for each figure. Source Data are provided as a Source Data file.