The Roles of CD8+ T Cell Subsets in Antitumor Immunity

Michael St Paul; Pamela S Ohashi

doi:10.1016/j.tcb.2020.06.003

The Roles of CD8⁺ T Cell Subsets in Antitumor Immunity

Trends Cell Biol. 2020 Sep;30(9):695-704. doi: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.06.003. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Authors

Michael St Paul¹, Pamela S Ohashi²

Affiliations

¹ Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C1, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1C1, Canada.
² Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C1, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1C1, Canada. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 32624246
DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.06.003

Abstract

Effector CD8⁺ T cells are typically thought to be a homogenous group of cytotoxic cells that produce interferon-(IFN) γ. However, recent findings have challenged this notion because multiple subsets of CD8⁺ T cells have been described, each with distinct effector functions and cytotoxic potential. These subsets, referred to as the Tc subsets, have also been detected in tumor microenvironments (TMEs), where they potentially influence the antitumor response and patient outcomes. In this review, we highlight the prevalence and roles of Tc subsets in the TME. We also discuss their therapeutic applications in the context of adoptive immunotherapy to treat cancer.

Keywords: CD8(+) T cell; Tc subset; cytokines; immunotherapy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Animals
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
Humans
Immunity*
Immunotherapy, Adoptive
Neoplasms / immunology*
Tumor Microenvironment / immunology