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

Drug Discov Today. 2021 Apr;26(4):951-967. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.01.002. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Cell Survival
  • Cytotoxicity, Immunologic
  • Humans
  • Immunomodulating Agents* / immunology
  • Immunomodulating Agents* / pharmacology
  • Immunotherapy / methods
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • Immunomodulating Agents