Tumor-infiltrating exhausted CD8+ T cells dictate reduced survival in premenopausal estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer.

ABSTRACT: CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) are associated with improved survival in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) yet have no association with survival in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) BC. The basis for these contrasting findings remains elusive. We identified subsets of BC tumors infiltrated by CD8+ T cells with characteristic features of exhausted T cells (TEX). Tumors with abundant CD8+ TEX exhibited a distinct tumor microenvironment marked by amplified interferon-γ signaling-related pathways and higher programmed death ligand 1 expression. Paradoxically, higher levels of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ TEX associated with decreased overall survival of patients with ER+ BC but not patients with TNBC. Moreover, high tumor expression of a CD8+ TEX signature identified dramatically reduc

SUBMITTER: Egelston CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8855819 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature