CD8+T cell exhaustion and cancer immunotherapy

Immunotherapy plays an increasingly important role in the treatment of most malignant tumors, and CD8+ T cells are the most important antitumor effector cells in the process of immunotherapy, and their number and functional status largely determine the antitumor effect. However, under continuous antigen exposure and the stimulation of inflammatory factors, CD8+ T cells gradually show a weakened proliferation and effector function, accompanied by the expression of a variety of inhibitory receptors. This state is known as CD8+ T cell exhaustion and often leads to the loss of control and progression of tumors. Recent studies provided us a better understanding of the mechanisms of T cell exhaustion, this review provides an overview of the activation, exhaustion mechanisms and exhaustion characteristics of CD8+ T cells. Although immunotherapy can reverse the exhaustion of CD8+ T cells and significantly improve the antitumor effects, single immunotherapy often has limitations, and it is difficult to achieve satisfactory antitumor effects, therefore, this review also summarizes up-to-date information related to cancer immunotherapy, and these emerging insights provide promising clues to the future management of malignant tumors.

Automated summary

Immunotherapy plays a crucial role in treating malignant tumors, and CD8+ T cells are essential for the success of immunotherapy. However, continuous antigen exposure and inflammatory factors can lead to CD8+ T cell exhaustion, causing loss of control and tumor progression. This review provides insights into the mechanisms and characteristics of CD8+ T cell exhaustion. While immunotherapy can reverse exhaustion and improve antitumor effects, single immunotherapy has limitations. The review also highlights promising clues for future management of malignant tumors.