Immunotherapy with in vitro-selected antigen-specific lymphocytes after non-myeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy

A method of promoting the regression of a cancer in a mammal, which method comprises:

• (i) administering to the mammal nonmyeloablative lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and
• (ii) subsequently administering:
• (a) autologous T-cells, which have been previously isolated, and selected for highly avid recognition of an antigen of the cancer, the regression of which is to be promoted, by stimulation of the T-cells in vitro with the antigen of the cancer, followed by one cycle of rapid expansion using irradiated allogeneic feeder cells, OKT3 antibody, and IL-2, and, either concomitantly with the autologous T-cells or subsequently to the autologous T-cells, by the same route or a different route, a T-cell growth factor that promotes the growth and activation of the autologous T-cells, or
• (b) autologous T-cells, which have been previously isolated, selected for highly avid recognition of an antigen of the cancer, the regression of which is to be promoted, by stimulation of the T-cells in vitro with the antigen of the cancer, and modified to express a T-cell growth factor that promotes the growth and activation of the autologous T-cells, followed by one cycle of rapid expansion using irradiated allogeneic feeder cells, OKT3 antibody, and IL-2 whereupon the regression of the cancer in the mammal is promoted.