Increased CD103^-CD8⁺ TILs with TPEX phenotype replenish anti-tumor T cell pool in mismatch repair-proficient CRC.

ABSTRACT: While mismatch repair-deficient (dMMR) colorectal cancers (CRCs) exhibit strong immunogenicity and better response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, the more prevalent mismatch repair-proficient (pMMR) CRCs typically show poor T- cell infiltration and inferior outcomes. Profiling the limited tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells helps identify responders and guides new strategies to enhance their infiltration and function in pMMR CRC tumors. Our study reveals that the proportion and number of CD103^-CD8⁺ T (CD103N) cells are significantly increased in pMMR CRC tissue compared to adjacent non-tumor tissue. Distinguish from CD103⁺CD8⁺ T (CD103P) cells with elevated T_EX markers, these CD103N cells display a precursor exhausted T cells

SUBMITTER: Liu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12583254 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature