biostudies-literatureUnknown14(1)Karjalainen HGamma-delta T cells are a subset of T cells that have features of both innate and adaptive immunity. Their role in cancer remains controversial, since both anti- and protumor functions have been reported. We aimed to shed light on the distinct characteristics of γδ T cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). In two independent cohorts, including 1 687 CRC patients, we identified γδ and αβ T cells with multiplex immunohistochemistry to evaluate their prognostic significance. To further analyze the characteristics of γδ T cells, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing data of 62 CRC patients. High γδ T cell densities were associated with prolonged survival in both cohorts, and this association was independent of other tumor and patient characteristics in Cohort 1, where the multivariable HR for high Oncoimmunology2532231https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12309541biostudies-literatureCharacteristics and significance of γδ T cells in colorectal cancer.PMC12309541Vayrynen SAHelminen OElomaa HKastinen MTuomisto AWirta EVTapiainen VVAhtiainen MVayrynen JPSeppala TTMerilainen SBohm JMakinen MJRintala JAijala VKKarjalainen HSaarnio JHarkonen JMecklin JPSirnio PRautio TfalseCharacteristics and significance of γδ T cells in colorectal cancer.Gamma-delta T cells are a subset of T cells that have features of both innate and adaptive immunity. Their role in cancer remains controversial, since both anti- and protumor functions have been reported. We aimed to shed light on the distinct characteristics of γδ T cells in colorectal cancer (CRC). In two independent cohorts, including 1 687 CRC patients, we identified γδ and αβ T cells with multiplex immunohistochemistry to evaluate their prognostic significance. To further analyze the characteristics of γδ T cells, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing data of 62 CRC patients. High γδ T cell densities were associated with prolonged survival in both cohorts, and this association was independent of other tumor and patient characteristics in Cohort 1, where the multivariable HR for high 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-03-31T10:33:57.13Z2025-08-24T03:06:02.883ZS-EPMC123095414072607810.1080/2162402X.2025.2532231