Marco Donia, Professor of Clinical Oncology at University of Copenhagen, shared on LinkedIn:
“What Should We Watch in Solid-Tumour Cell Therapy at ESMO 2026?
My watchlist focuses on frontline TIL, an IL-2-free TIL regimen, PRAME-directed TCR-T and cell therapy beyond melanoma.
2072O | Lifileucel plus pembrolizumab
Friday 23 October, 17:00–17:10
With lifileucel, a tumour-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, plus pembrolizumab, 15/24 dose-selected patients with ICI-naïve advanced melanoma responded, including 7 CRs. Median DOR not reached; median PFS 19.8 months, with 26.9 months’ median follow-up.
Encouraging durability; randomized phase III TILVANCE-301 is ongoing.
LBA55 | GC101 TIL
Friday 23 October, 17:10–17:20
101 randomized; 99 analysed. GC101 + the anti-PD-1 antibody sintilimab after reduced-intensity conditioning, without IL-2, improved median PFS versus chemotherapy: 4.37 vs 1.61 months, HR 0.44 (95% CI 0.28–0.70). ORR 44.0% vs 8.2%; grade ≥3 TRAEs 42.0% vs 30.6%.
Predominantly acral/mucosal melanoma, in a trial conducted in China after ≥2 regimens including anti-PD-1. The benefit reflects the complete regimen. Follow-up 8.3 months; OS immature.
1946O | PRAME-directed IMA203CD8
Friday 23 October, 13:30–13:40
89 treated across nine tumour types; confirmed responses in 31/81 (38%). Higher-dose gynecological subgroup: 9/18 responses, 8/9 ongoing. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grade 3 in 8%, grade 4 in 1%; immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) in 8%.
Activity in selected PRAME-positive, HLA-A*02:01-positive tumours.
CAR-T beyond melanoma
Saturday 24 October, 15:47–15:57 | 1003O: GCC CAR-T, colorectal cancer
5/12 responses; grade 3 diarrhea 66%.
Monday 26 October, 15:12–15:17 | 1680RO: GPC3 CAR-T, hepatocellular carcinoma
16/36 responses; median DOR 4.4 months. Related interstitial lung disease in 6%; one death followed related tumour lysis syndrome and renal dysfunction.
Clinical activity, response duration and organ toxicity to be interpreted
Small cohorts, useful signals
Sunday 25 October, 15:22–15:27 | 3615RO: CD70 CAR-T, renal cancer
3/9 responses; grade 3 CRS in 4/9.
Monday 26 October, 09:34–09:39 | 3725RO: lifileucel in undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma and dedifferentiated liposarcoma
10 harvested, 8 infused, 3 confirmed PRs, ongoing at 10–17 weeks. Grade ≥3 nonhematologic TRAEs in 6/8.
Early signals. Who reaches infusion, durability and treatment burden matter.
My educational talk
Sunday 25 October, 14:45–15:05
‘Acute and late toxicities of TILs and TCR therapy in solid tumours.’
As an ESMO26 Social Media Ambassador, I look forward to the presentations and discussion.”
You can also read: 20 Posts Not to Miss from ESMO Congress 2026: Day 1
