Tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cell antitumor efficacy and exhaustion: molecular insights

Host immunity has an essential role in the clinical management of cancers. Therefore, it is advantageous to choose therapies that can promote tumor cell death and concurrently boost host immunity. The dynamic tumor microenvironment (TME) determines whether an antineoplastic drug will elicit favorable or disparaging immune responses from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). CD8+ T cells are one of the primary tumor-infiltrating immune cells that deliver antitumor responses. Here, we review the influence of various factors in the TME on CD8+ T cell exhaustion and survival, and possible strategies for restoring CD8+ T cell effector function through immunotherapy.

Automated summary

The crucial role of host immunity in clinical cancer management is highlighted, emphasizing the importance of therapies that can enhance tumor cell death and bolster host immunity. The impact of the tumor microenvironment on CD8+ T cell exhaustion and survival is discussed, along with potential strategies for restoring CD8+ T cell effector function through immunotherapy.