Open AccessPrognostic and therapeutic role of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte subtypes in breast cancer
Author(s) -
Molly A. Nelson,
Worapol Ngamcherdtrakul,
Shiuh Wen Luoh,
Wassana Yantasee
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
cancer and metastasis reviews/cancer metastasis reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.555
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1573-7233
pISSN - 0167-7659
DOI - 10.1007/s10555-021-09968-0
Subject(s) - cytotoxic t cell , interleukin 21 , immune system , cancer research , cd8 , natural killer t cell , immunology , immunotherapy , antigen presenting cell , tumor infiltrating lymphocytes , interleukin 12 , biology , antigen , t cell , medicine , in vitro , biochemistry
Increased levels of total tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are generally associated with good prognosis in several breast cancer subtypes. Subtypes of TILs impact both tumor cells and immune cells in a variety of different ways, leading to either a pro-tumor or antitumor effect. Tumor-infiltrating CD8 + T cells and natural killer (NK) cells perform as effector cells against tumor cells and are associated with better clinical outcome. Immunotherapy approaches that improve the antitumor activity and proliferation of CD8 + T and NK cells include PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, CAR T cell therapy, or ex vivo-stimulated NK cells. A subset of CD8 + T cells, tissue-resident memory T cells, has also recently been associated with good prognosis in breast cancer patients, and has potential to serve as a predictive biomarker and therapeutic target. Tumor-infiltrating B cells also secrete apoptosis-inducing IgG antibodies and can act as antigen-presenting cells to prime CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. On the other hand, regulatory T and regulatory B cells modulate the immune response from CD8 + T cells and NK cells by secreting immunosuppressive cytokines and inhibiting maturation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs). These regulatory cells are typically associated with poor prognosis, therefore rendering suppression of their regulatory function a key immunotherapeutic strategy.