Processes for production of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and uses of same in immunotherapy

A cryopreserved therapeutic population of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) produced by a method comprising:

• (a) performing a first expansion by culturing a first population of TILs from tumor fragments or a tumor digest obtained from a tumor resected from a subject in a cell culture medium comprising IL-2 to produce a second population of TILs, wherein the first expansion is performed in a closed container providing a first gas-permeable surface area, wherein the first expansion is performed for a first period of about 3 to 11 days to obtain the second population of TILs;
• (b) performing a second expansion by supplementing the cell culture medium with additional IL-2, OKT-3, and antigen presenting cells (APCs), to produce a third population of TILs, wherein the second expansion is performed for a second period of about 7 to 11 days in order to obtain the third population of TILs, and wherein the third population of TILs is a therapeutic population of TILs;
• (c) harvesting the therapeutic population of TILs obtained from step (b);
• (d) transferring the harvested therapeutic population of TILs from step (c) into an infusion bag;
• and
• (e) cryopreserving the infusion bag comprising the harvested TIL population from step (d) using a cryopreservation process.