Lilit Karapetyan, MD, MS, FACP

Tertiary lymphoid structures in melanoma microenvironment Adaptive cell therapy with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in melanoma

Associations

• Cutaneous Oncology
• Translational Pathology
• Immuno-Oncology Program

Education & Training

Graduate:

• University of Michigan, MS - Clinical Research Design Statistical Analysis

Fellowship:

• University of Pittsburgh - Hematology/Oncology

Residency:

• Yerevan State Medical University - Oncology
• Michigan State University - Internal Medicine

Medical School:

• Yerevan State Medical University - MD

Studying tumor microenvironment B-T cell interactions Improving TIL therapy outcomes with ex vivo modulation of TIL expansion

Clinical Trial 22079
A Phase 1/2, Open-Label Study of PD-1 Knockout Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (IOC-4001) in Participants with Unresectable or Metastatic Melanoma or Stage III or IV Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Condition: Cutaneous
Intervention: IL-2 (Interleukin-2); IOV-4001 (); MESNA (); cyclophosphamide (); cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); fludarabine (Fludarabine phosphate)
Status: OPEN (SUSPENDED)

Clinical Trial 22505
Cutaneous Adverse Events (irCAEs) Associated with Immunotherapy in Patients with Melanoma
Condition: Cutaneous
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 22536
Immune Profiling of Relatlimab and Nivolumab Combination Immunotherapy for Advanced Stage Metastatic Melanoma
Condition: Cutaneous
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 22554
A prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, actively controlled, parallel-group Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate efficacy, safety, and tolerability of IMA203 versus investigator's choice of treatment in patients with previously treated, unresectable or metastatic cutaneous melanoma (ACTengine® IMA203-301)
Condition: Cutaneous
Intervention: Albumin-Bound Paclitaxel (); BMS-936558 (Nivolumab); BMS-986016 (Relatlimab); DTIC (Dacarbazine); Dacarbazine (); IL-2 (Interleukin-2); IMA203 (); Ipilimumab (); Lifileucel (); Nivolumab (Opdivo); Paraplatin (carboplatin); Pembrolizumab (Keytruda); Relatlimab (); Taxol (paclitaxel); Temodal (Temozolomide); Temozolomide (); Yervoy (Ipilimumab); carboplatin (); cyclophosphamide (); cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); fludarabine (Fludarabine phosphate); paclitaxel ()
Status: Open

Clinical Trial 23082
Phase I/II Clinical Trial of CD40L-augmented Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL) for Patients with Advanced Melanoma
Condition: Cutaneous
Intervention: Aldesleukin (Interleukin-2); IL-2 (Interleukin-2); Interleukin-2 (); Proleukin (Interleukin-2); TIL (); cyclophosphamide (); cytoxan (cyclophosphamide); fludarabine (Fludarabine phosphate)
Status: Open

If you believe you are eligible for one of these trials or studies, please call
813-745-6100 or toll-free 1-800-679-0775.

• Dugan MM, Balsay-Patel C, Chin N, Israeli J, Ward KR, Nichols M, Greenbaum S, Fan W, Cruse CW, Harrington M, Neves RI, Gonzalez RJ, Perez MC, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Tarhini AA, Khushalani N, Brohl AS, Markowitz J, Eroglu Z, Karapetyan L, Tsai KY, Zager JS. Recurrence and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Positive, Negative, or Not Performed Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2026 Jan.33(1):389-396. Pubmedid: 41168606.
• Karapetyan L, Kuriakose J, Perez MC, Ali JR, Hall MS, Beatty MS, Otteni CD, Xu J, Kalos D, Moran-Segura C, Vieira E, Adams K, Rodriguez-Alfonso L, DiMaggio EC, Bailey H, Pinilla-Ibarz J, Locke FL, Mullinax JE, Chen PL, Song J, Messina JL, Johnson DB, Morgan DS, Eroglu Z, Khushalani NI, Sondak VK, Sarnaik AA, Tsai K, Mulé JJ, Pilon-Thomas S. Case Report: Durable response to tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy in a patient with metastatic melanoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma. Front Immunol. 2025 Nov.16:1718443. Pubmedid: 41333460. Pmcid: PMC12665918.
• DePalo DK, Dugan MM, Naqvi SMH, Ollila DW, Hieken TJ, Block MS, van Houdt WJ, Wouters MWJM, Reijers SJM, Asher N, Broman KK, Duncan Z, Anderson M, Gyorki DE, Snow H, Held J, Farma JM, Vetto JT, Hui JYC, Kolbow M, Saw RPM, Lo SN, Long GV, Thompson JF, Kim Y, Karapetyan L, Ny L, van Akkooi ACJ, Bagge RO, Zager JS. A comparison of isolated limb infusion/perfusion, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and intralesional therapy as first-line treatment for patients with melanoma in-transit metastases. Cancer. 2025 Jan.131(1):e35636. Pubmedid: 39522025.
• Dugan MM, Balsay-Patel C, Chin N, Israeli J, Ward KR, Nichols M, Greenbaum S, Fan W, Cruse CW, Harrington M, Neves RI, Gonzalez RJ, Perez MC, Sarnaik AA, Sondak VK, Messina JL, Tarhini AA, Khushalani N, Brohl AS, Markowitz J, Eroglu Z, Karapetyan L, Tsai KY, Zager JS. ASO Visual Abstract: Recurrence and Survival Outcomes in Patients with Primary Merkel Cell Carcinoma with Positive, Negative or Not Performed Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy. Ann Surg Oncol. 2025 Dec. Pubmedid: 41361154.
• Ramadoss T, Nichols M, Palacios C, Eroglu Z, Markowitz J, Karapetyan L, Tarhini AA, Wuthrick EJ, Sondak VK, Khushalani NI, Tsai KY, Brohl AS. Durability of response to immune checkpoint blockade following treatment discontinuation and efficacy of rechallenge in advanced Merkel cell carcinoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Sep.12(9). Pubmedid: 39242118. Pmcid: PMC11381633.
• Karapetyan L, Li A, Vargas De Stefano D, Abushukair HM, Al-Bzour AN, Knight A, Layding C, Wang H, Xu J, Yao J, Song X, Joy M, Nguyen J, Moran-Segura C, Bruno S, Sander C, Messina J, Mule JJ, Storkus WJ, Kirkwood JM. Differences in the pathological, transcriptomic, and prognostic implications of lymphoid structures between primary and metastatic cutaneous melanomas. J Immunother Cancer. 2024 Nov.12(11). Pubmedid: 39537211. Pmcid: PMC11575263.
• Dugan MM, Perez MC, Karapetyan L, Zager JS. Combination Atezolizumab, Cobimetinib, and Vemurafenib as a Treatment Option in BRAF V600 Mutation-Positive Melanoma: Patient Selection and Perspectives. Cancer Manag Res. 2024 Jul.16:933-939. Pubmedid: 39099762. Pmcid: PMC11296355.
• Filderman JN, Taylor JL, Wang J, Zhang Y, Singh P, Ross MA, Watkins SC, Nedal Al Bzour A, Karapetyan L, Kalinski P, Storkus WJ. Antagonism of regulatory ISGs enhances the anti-melanoma efficacy of STING agonists. Front Immunol. 2024 Jan.15:1334769. Pubmedid: 38312842. Pmcid: PMC10835797.
• Dugan MM, Perez MC, Karapetyan L, Zager JS. Management of acral lentiginous melanoma: current updates and future directions. Front Oncol. 2024 Feb.14:1323933. Pubmedid: 38390259. Pmcid: PMC10882087.
• Cillo AR, Cardello C, Shan F, Karapetyan L, Kunning S, Sander C, Rush E, Karunamurthy A, Massa RC, Rohatgi A, Workman CJ, Kirkwood JM, Bruno TC, Vignali DAA. Blockade of LAG-3 and PD-1 leads to co-expression of cytotoxic and exhaustion gene modules in CD8+ T cells to promote antitumor immunity. Cell. 2024 Aug.187(16):4373-4388.e15. Pubmedid: 39121849. Pmcid: PMC11346583.
• Karapetyan L, Iheagwara UK, Olson AC, Chmura SJ, Skinner HK, Luke JJ. Radiation dose, schedule, and novel systemic targets for radio-immunotherapy combinations. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2023 Nov.115(11):1278-1293. Pubmedid: 37348864. Pmcid: PMC10637035.
• Kashani-Sabet M, Leachman SA, Stein JA, Arbiser JL, Berry EG, Celebi JT, Curiel-Lewandrowski C, Ferris LK, Grant-Kels JM, Grossman D, Kulkarni RP, Marchetti MA, Nelson KC, Polsky D, Seiverling EV, Swetter SM, Tsao H, Verdieck-Devlaeminck A, Wei ML, Bar A, Bartlett EK, Bolognia JL, Bowles TL, Cha KB, Chu EY, Hartman RI, Hawryluk EB, Jampel RM, Karapetyan L, Kheterpal M, Lawson DH, Leming PD, Liebman TN, Ming ME, Sahni D, Savory SA, Shaikh SS, Sober AJ, Sondak VK, Spaccarelli N, Usatine RP, Venna S, Kirkwood JM. Early Detection and Prognostic Assessment of Cutaneous Melanoma: Consensus on Optimal Practice and the Role of Gene Expression Profile Testing. JAMA Dermatol. 2023 May.159(5):545-553. Pubmedid: 36920356.
• Korpics MC, Onderdonk BE, Dadey RE, Hara JH, Karapetyan L, Zha Y, Karrison TG, Olson AC, Fleming GF, Weichselbaum RR, Bao R, Chmura SJ, Luke JJ. Partial tumor irradiation plus pembrolizumab in treating large advanced solid tumor metastases. J Clin Invest. 2023 May.133(10). Pubmedid: 37183819. Pmcid: PMC10178837.
• Karapetyan L, Luke JJ. Interferon Biology and LAG-3 Shedding in PD-(L)1 plus LAG-3 Immunotherapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2023 Mar.29(5):835-837. Pubmedid: 36534010. Pmcid: PMC9992241.
• Karapetyan L, AbuShukair HM, Li A, Knight A, Al Bzour AN, MacFawn IP, Thompson ZJ, Chen A, Yang X, Dadey R, Karunamurthy A, De Stefano DV, Sander C, Kunning SR, Najjar YG, Davar D, Luke JJ, Gooding W, Bruno TC, Kirkwood JM, Storkus WJ. Expression of lymphoid structure-associated cytokine/chemokine gene transcripts in tumor and protein in serum are prognostic of melanoma patient outcomes. Front Immunol. 2023 Jun.14:1171978. Pubmedid: 37435077. Pmcid: PMC10332263.
• Knight A, Karapetyan L, Kirkwood JM. Immunotherapy in Melanoma: Recent Advances and Future Directions. Cancers (Basel). 2023 Feb.15(4). Pubmedid: 36831449. Pmcid: PMC9954703.
• Yang X, Karapetyan L, Huang Z, Knight AD, Rajendran S, Sander C, Minnier CP, Wilson MJ, Kirkwood JM. Multiple primary melanoma in association with other personal and familial cancers. Cancer Med. 2023 Feb.12(3):2474-2483. Pubmedid: 35932099. Pmcid: PMC9939182.
• Phadke MS, Li J, Chen Z, Rodriguez PC, Mandula JK, Karapetyan L, Forsyth PA, Chen YA, Smalley KSM. Differential requirements for CD4+ T cells in the efficacy of the anti-PD-1+LAG-3 and anti-PD-1+CTLA-4 combinations in melanoma flank and brain metastasis models. J Immunother Cancer. 2023 Dec.11(12). Pubmedid: 38056899. Pmcid: PMC10711842.
• Perez MC, Messina JL, Karapetyan L, Neves RI, Sondak VK. Acral melanoma: clinical advances and hope for the future. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2023 Aug.21(8):400-409. Pubmedid: 37530614.
• Karapetyan L, Gooding W, Li A, Yang X, Knight A, Abushukair HM, Vargas De Stefano D, Sander C, Karunamurthy A, Panelli M, Storkus WJ, Tarhini AA, Kirkwood JM. Sentinel Lymph Node Gene Expression Signature Predicts Recurrence-Free Survival in Cutaneous Melanoma. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Oct.14(20). Pubmedid: 36291758. Pmcid: PMC9599365.
• Karapetyan L, Yang X, Knight AD, Huang Z, Wang H, Sander CA, Minnier CP, Wilson M, Li A, Karunamurthy A, Storkus WJ, Kirkwood JM. Poorer survival outcomes in patients with multiple versus single primary melanoma. Cancer. 2022 Jun.128(11):2098-2106. Pubmedid: 35319783.
• Lemoine C, Giacobbe AG, Bonifacino E, Karapetyan L, Seaman C. A case of acquired haemophilia A in a 70-year-old post COVID-19 vaccine. Haemophilia. 2022 Jan.28(1):e15-e17. Pubmedid: 34708898. Pmcid: PMC8652744.
• Andrews LP, Cillo AR, Karapetyan L, Kirkwood JM, Workman CJ, Vignali DAA. Molecular Pathways and Mechanisms of LAG3 in Cancer Therapy. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 Dec.28(23):5030-5039. Pubmedid: 35579997. Pmcid: PMC9669281.
• Yang X, Karapetyan L, Kirkwood JM. Safety and Efficacy of Checkpoint Inhibition in Patients With Melanoma and Preexisting Autoimmune Disease. Ann Intern Med. 2021 Sep.174(9):1345. Pubmedid: 34543597.
• Storkus WJ, Maurer D, Lin Y, Ding F, Bose A, Lowe D, Rose A, DeMark M, Karapetyan L, Taylor JL, Chelvanambi M, Fecek RJ, Filderman JN, Looney TJ, Miller L, Linch E, Lowman GM, Kalinski P, Butterfield LH, Tarhini A, Tawbi H, Kirkwood JM. Dendritic cell vaccines targeting tumor blood vessel antigens in combination with dasatinib induce therapeutic immune responses in patients with checkpoint-refractory advanced melanoma. J Immunother Cancer. 2021 Nov.9(11). Pubmedid: 34782430. Pmcid: PMC8593702.
• Goodman AE, Karapetyan L, Pugliano-Mauro M, Levenson JE, Luke JJ. Case Report: Single Dose Anti-PD1 in a Patient With Metastatic Melanoma and Cardiac Allograft. Front Immunol. 2021 Mar.12:660795. Pubmedid: 33828564. Pmcid: PMC8019780.
• Karapetyan L, Yang X, Wang H, Sander CA, Moyer A, Wilson M, Karunamurthy A, Kirkwood JM. Indoor tanning exposure in association with multiple primary melanoma. Cancer. 2021 Feb.127(4):560-568. Pubmedid: 33170961.
• Karapetyan L, Kirkwood JM. State of Melanoma: An Historic Overview of a Field in Transition. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am. 2021 Feb.35(1):1-27. Pubmedid: 33759768.
• Karapetyan L, Luke JJ, Davar D. Toll-Like Receptor 9 Agonists in Cancer. Onco Targets Ther. 2020 Oct.13:10039-10060. Pubmedid: 33116588. Pmcid: PMC7553670.
• Yoon H, Karapetyan L, Choudhary A, Kosozi R, Bali GS, Zaidi AH, Atasoy A, Forastiere AA, Gibson MK. Phase II Study of Irinotecan Plus Panitumumab as Second-Line Therapy for Patients with Advanced Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Oncologist. 2018 Sep.23(9):1004-e102. Pubmedid: 29769385. Pmcid: PMC6192615.
• Alkharabsheh O, Kannarkatt P, Kannarkatt J, Karapetyan L, Laird-Fick HS, Al-Janadi A. An overview of the toxicities of checkpoint inhibitors in older patients with cancer. Geriatr Oncol. 2018 Sep.9(5):451-458. Pubmedid: 29567089.
• Hassanein M, Karapetyan L, Khan A, Rayamajhi S. Sarcoidosis and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS): A True Association or Just a Coincidence?. Case Rep Hematol. 2018 Sep.2018:3790760. Pubmedid: 30356364. Pmcid: PMC6176294.
• Isaac D, Karapetyan L, Tamkus D. Association of Germline PALB2 Mutation and Response to Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Case Series. JCO Precis Oncol. 2018 Nov.2:1-5. Pubmedid: 35135128.
• Karapetyan L, Dawani O, Laird-Fick HS. End-of-Life Care for an Undocumented Mexican Immigrant: Resident Perspective. J Palliative Care. 2018 Apr.33(2):63-64. Pubmedid: 29512426.
• Karapetyan L, Rai M, Dawani O, Laird-Fick HS. Metastatic Sarcomatoid Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Cervix Presenting with Chest Mass. Case Rep Oncol Med. 2017 Oct.2017:5264564. Pubmedid: 29062577. Pmcid: PMC5618741.
• Awan MJ, Lavertu P, Zender C, Rezaee R, Fowler N, Karapetyan L, Gibson M, Wasman J, Faulhaber P, Machtay M, Yao M. Post-treatment PET/CT and p16 status for predicting treatment outcomes in locally advanced head and neck cancer after definitive radiation. Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2017 Jun.44(6):988-997. Pubmedid: 28091733.
• Karapetyan L, Laird-Fick H, Cuison R. Metastatic Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer Presenting Clinically with Esophageal Dysphagia. Case Rep Oncol Med. 2017 Feb.2017:7065674. Pubmedid: 28191357. Pmcid: PMC5278185.
• Salehi N, Nasiri M, Bianco NR, Opreanu M, Singh V, Satija V, Jhand AS, Karapetyan L, Safadi AR, Surapaneni P, Thakur RK. The Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy: A US National Database Analysis. Can J Cardiol. 2016 Oct.32(10):1247.e1-1247.e6. Pubmedid: 26975224.

• Title: Deciphering the role of APRIL/TNFSF13 in melanoma associated TLS formation
  Award Number:
  Sponsor: Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF)
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)
• Title: CD40L-augmented tumor infiltrating lymphocyte growth from core biopsy samples
  Award Number:
  Sponsor: Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF)
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)
• Title: RWE for de-identified data on patients receiving standard of care TIL therapy
  Award Number: n/a
  Sponsor: Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)
• Title: Development and Validation of Prognostic and Predictive AI biomarkers in melanoma
  Award Number: 22VA014-S3
  Sponsor: VALAR LABS INC
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)
• Title: Deciphering the impact of tumor-associated tertiary lymphoid structures on regional lymph node metastasis in primary melanomas
  Award Number: N/A
  Sponsor: PHI BETA PSI SORORITY
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)
• Title: Evaluating B-T cell crosstalk within tertiary lymphoid structures in melanoma progression and immune checkpoint blockade
  Award Number: HT94252410640
  Sponsor: Department of Defense (DOD)
  Karapetyan, L. (PD/PI)