Multimodal single-cell and spatial profiling reveals altered T cell-mediated immunity and B-cell follicular architecture in non-metastatic lymph nodes of patients with aggressive non-small cell lung cancer.

ABSTRACT: Regional lymph nodes (LNs) in the thoracic cavity serve as essential immunological hubs that coordinate humoral and cell-mediated responses against the development and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). To investigate immune dysregulation in the non-metastatic regional LNs of patients with aggressive NSCLC, we performed multimodal profiling on 36 LNs from 11 patients undergoing curative-intent resection including CITE-seq, scRNA-seq, and Imaging Mass Cytometry (IMC). Regional N1 LNs from patients with more aggressive disease (stage IB-IIIA) exhibited a significant enrichment of dysfunctional CD8⁺ T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs) compared to N2 LNs and LNs from patients with less aggressive disease (stage IA). These immune subsets were spatially co-localized

SUBMITTER: Xi ZH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12870645 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature