The ACTIVATE (Adoptive Cell Therapy InVigorated to Augment Tumor Eradication) Trial

This is a phase 1b study for patients with metastatic (cancer has spread to various parts of the body) melanoma and ovarian cancer. The main purpose is to examine the safety and efficacy of administering pembrolizumab after receiving chemotherapy, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and low dose interleukin 2 (IL-2). Patients will first receive either cyclophosphamide, or cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. These are chemotherapy agents that prepare the body to receive TILs. Patients are then infused with autologous TILs, a type of white blood cell that recognizes tumor cells and enters them, thereby causing tumor cells to break down. Following TILs infusion, patients will receive low-dose IL-2 therapy. This is a type of protein that is intended to activate and stimulate the growth of cells in the patient's immune system. If the patient meets the required criteria, they will be given pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody (drug made up of cloned immune cells) that is designed to block a protein called programed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) which will allow the body's immune system to kill the cancer cells.