Breast cancer, a leading type of malignant tumor, is highly heterogeneous, with each subtype having different prognoses and potential therapeutic targets. The tumor microenvironment plays a key role in tumor development. It consists of immune cells, stromal cells, the extracellular matrix, and blood and lymphatic networks, forming a complex immune regulatory network. In anti-tumor immunity, the cellular immune response led by T lymphocytes is crucial. An in-depth study of T lymphocytes in the tumor microenvironment may offer new insights for breast cancer treatment. This article reviews the role of T lymphocyte subsets in the current tumor microenvironment of breast cancer.
References
[1]
Rybinska, I., Mangano, N., Tagliabue, E. and Triulzi, T. (2021) Cancer-Associated Adipocytes in Breast Cancer: Causes and Consequences. InternationalJournalofMolecularSciences, 22, Article No. 3775. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22073775
[2]
Sueangoen, N., Thuwajit, P., Yenchitsomanus, P. and Thuwajit, C. (2024) Public Neoantigens in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy (Review). InternationalJournalofMolecularMedicine, 54, Article No. 65. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.2024.5388
[3]
Bae, M.S. (2023) Impact of Molecular Subtype Definitions on AI Classification of Breast Cancer at MRI. Radiology, 307, e223041. https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.223041
[4]
Wang, Y., Deng, T., Liu, X., Fang, X., Mo, Y., Xie, N., et al. (2024) Smart Nanoplatforms Responding to the Tumor Microenvironment for Precise Drug Delivery in Cancer Therapy. InternationalJournalofNanomedicine, 19, 6253-6277. https://doi.org/10.2147/ijn.s459710
[5]
Mao, X., Xu, J., Wang, W., Liang, C., Hua, J., Liu, J., et al. (2021) Crosstalk between Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Immune Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment: New Findings and Future Perspectives. MolecularCancer, 20, Article No. 131. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-021-01428-1
[6]
Ye, Z., Cheng, P., Huang, Q., Hu, J., Huang, L. and Hu, G. (2024) Immunocytes Interact Directly with Cancer Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment: One Coin with Two Sides and Future Perspectives. Frontiers in Immunology, 15, Article ID: 1388176. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1388176
[7]
Wang, D., et al. (2021) Biological Function of Immune Cells in Tumor Microenvironment and Its Role in Cancer Immunotherapy. JournalofClinicalandExperimentalMedicine, 20, 894-897.
[8]
Upadhyay, R., Boiarsky, J.A., Pantsulaia, G., Svensson-Arvelund, J., Lin, M.J., Wroblewska, A., et al. (2021) A Critical Role for FAS-Mediated Off-Target Tumor Killing in T-Cell Immunotherapy. CancerDiscovery, 11, 599-613. https://doi.org/10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0756
[9]
Kyrysyuk, O. and Wucherpfennig, K.W. (2023) Designing Cancer Immunotherapies That Engage T Cells and NK Cells. AnnualReviewofImmunology, 41, 17-38. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-immunol-101921-044122
[10]
Wu, X., Li, T., Jiang, R., Yang, X., Guo, H. and Yang, R. (2023) Targeting MHC-I Molecules for Cancer: Function, Mechanism, and Therapeutic Prospects. MolecularCancer, 22, Article No. 194. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-023-01899-4
[11]
Sun, L., Su, Y., Jiao, A., Wang, X. and Zhang, B. (2023) T Cells in Health and Disease. SignalTransductionandTargetedTherapy, 8, Article No. 235. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-023-01471-y
[12]
Cai, Y., Wang, L. and Li, X. (2022) T Lymphocytes and Osteoporosis. Chinese Journal of Osteopo-rosisandBoneMineralSaltDisease, 15, 440-446.
[13]
Ruterbusch, M., Pruner, K.B., Shehata, L. and Pepper, M. (2020) In Vivo CD4+ T Cell Differentiation and Function: Revisiting the Th1/Th2 Paradigm. AnnualReviewofImmunology, 38, 705-725. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-immunol-103019-085803
[14]
Cenerenti, M., Saillard, M., Romero, P. and Jandus, C. (2022) The Era of Cytotoxic CD4 T Cells. FrontiersinImmunology, 13, Article ID: 867189. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.867189
[15]
Chraa, D., Naim, A., Olive, D. and Badou, A. (2018) T Lymphocyte Subsets in Cancer Immunity: Friends or Foes. JournalofLeukocyteBiology, 105, 243-255. https://doi.org/10.1002/jlb.mr0318-097r
[16]
Zhang, H., Zhu, Z., Modrak, S. and Little, A. (2022) Tissue-Resident Memory CD4+ T Cells Play a Dominant Role in the Initiation of Antitumor Immunity. TheJournalofImmunology, 208, 2837-2846. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.2100852
[17]
Wang, X.L. and Du, Q. (2021) Correlation between Platelet and CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ Lymphocyte Levels in Peripheral Blood and Clinicopathological Features of Breast Cancer. Thrombosisand Hemostasis, 27, 820-822.
[18]
Briukhovetska, D., Suarez-Gosalvez, J., Voigt, C., Markota, A., Giannou, A.D., Schübel, M., et al. (2023) T Cell-Derived Interleukin-22 Drives the Expression of CD155 by Cancer Cells to Suppress NK Cell Function and Promote Metastasis. Immunity, 56, 143-161.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.immuni.2022.12.010
[19]
Yuan, S.M. (2023) Study on the Correlation between Different Lymphocyte Subsets in Peripheral Blood and Breast Tumors. Dalian Medical University.
[20]
Di Roio, A., Hubert, M., Besson, L., Bossennec, M., Rodriguez, C., Grinberg-Bleyer, Y., et al. (2023) MDR1-Expressing CD4+ T Cells with Th1.17 Features Resist to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Are Associated with Breast Cancer Clinical Response. JournalforImmunoTherapyofCancer, 11, e007733. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2023-007733
[21]
Zhang, H., Li, Y., Liu, Y., Liu, Y. and Chen, X. (2024) Predictive Value of Lymphocyte Subsets and Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio in Assessing the Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Therapy in Breast Cancer. ScientificReports, 14, Article No. 12799. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-61632-z
[22]
Li, C., Jiang, P., Wei, S., Xu, X. and Wang, J. (2020) Regulatory T Cells in Tumor Microenvironment: New Mechanisms, Potential Therapeutic Strategies and Future Prospects. MolecularCancer, 19, Article No. 116. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-020-01234-1
[23]
Huang, P., Zhou, X., Zheng, M., Yu, Y., Jin, G. and Zhang, S. (2023) Regulatory T Cells Are Associated with the Tumor Immune Microenvironment and Immunotherapy Response in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. FrontiersinImmunology, 14, Article ID: 1263537. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1263537
[24]
Si, F., Liu, X., Tao, Y., Zhang, Y., Ma, F., Hsueh, E.C., et al. (2024) Blocking Senescence and Tolerogenic Function of Dendritic Cells Induced by γδ Treg Cells Enhances Tumor-Specific Immunity for Cancer Immunotherapy. JournalforImmunoTherapyofCancer, 12, e008219. https://doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2023-008219
[25]
Sun, Y., Wang, Y., Lu, F., Zhao, X., Nie, Z. and He, B. (2023) The Prognostic Values of FOXP3+ Tumor-Infiltrating T Cells in Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ClinicalandTranslationalOncology, 25, 1830-1843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03080-1
[26]
Castoldi, A., Lee, J., de Siqueira Carvalho, D. and Souto, F.O. (2023) CD8+ T Cell Metabolic Changes in Breast Cancer. BiochimicaetBiophysicaActa (BBA)—MolecularBasisofDisease, 1869, Article ID: 166565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166565
[27]
Chen, Y., Yu, D., Qian, H., Shi, Y. and Tao, Z. (2024) CD8+ T Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy. JournalofTranslationalMedicine, 22, Article No. 394. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-024-05134-6
[28]
Lu, Y., Ye, C. and Yuan, Y. (2022) Phenotypic Characteristics and T Cell Receptor Properties in Melanoma: Deciphering the Correlation at Single-Cell Resolution. SignalTransductionandTargetedTherapy, 7, Article No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41392-021-00864-1
[29]
Hudson, W.H. and Wieland, A. (2023) Technology Meets TILs: Deciphering T Cell Function in the-Omics Era. CancerCell, 41, 41-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2022.09.011
[30]
Wu, C., Yi, J. and Zeng, L. (2023) Application of CD8+ T Cell Count and Function Detection in Early Diagnosis and Prognosis of Breast Cancer. Modern Diagnosis and Treatment, 34, 3077-3079.
[31]
Zhou, Z.Q. and Yang, X.J. (2023) Relationship between the Expression Level of CD8+ T Cells in Breast Cancer Sections and the Pathological Characteristics of Patients with Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes. Doctors, 8, 100-102.
[32]
Liu, X., Bai, M., Li, H., Ye, P., Duan, X., Wu, C., et al. (2022) Single-Cell RNA-Sequencing Uncovers Compound Kushen Injection Synergistically Improves the Efficacy of Chemotherapy by Modulating the Tumor Environment of Breast Cancer. FrontiersinImmunology, 13, Article ID: 965342. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.965342
[33]
Morad, G., Helmink, B.A., Sharma, P. and Wargo, J.A. (2022) Hallmarks of Response, Resistance, and Toxicity to Immune Checkpoint Blockade. Cell, 185, Article No. 576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2022.01.008
[34]
Magrì, A., Germano, G., Lorenzato, A., Lamba, S., Chilà, R., Montone, M., et al. (2020) High-Dose Vitamin C Enhances Cancer Immunotherapy. Science TranslationalMedicine, 12, Article No. 532. https://doi.org/10.1126/scitranslmed.aay8707
[35]
Xia, Z., Zhou, Y., Li, J. and He, J. (2022) Integrated Analysis of Single-Cell and Bulk RNA-Sequencing Reveals a Tissue-Resident Macrophage-Related Signature for Predicting Immunotherapy Response in Breast Cancer Patients. Cancers, 14, Article No. 5506. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14225506
[36]
Lu, Y., Houson, H.A., Gallegos, C.A., Mascioni, A., Jia, F., Aivazian, A., et al. (2024) Evaluating the Immunologically “Cold” Tumor Microenvironment after Treatment with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors Utilizing PET Imaging of CD4+ and CD8+ T Cells in Breast Cancer Mouse Models. BreastCancerResearch, 26, Article No. 104. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-024-01844-3
[37]
Bao, X., Qin, Y., Lu, L. and Zheng, M. (2022) Transcriptional Regulation of Early T-Lymphocyte Development in Thymus. Frontiers in Immunology, 13, Article ID: 884569. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.884569
[38]
Tong, Q., Yao, L., Su, M., Yang, Y. and Sun, L. (2024) Thymocyte Migration and Emigration. ImmunologyLetters, 267, Article ID: 106861. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imlet.2024.106861
[39]
Hagen, M., Pangrazzi, L., Rocamora-Reverte, L. and Weinberger, B. (2023) Legend or Truth: Mature CD4+CD8+ Double-Positive T Cells in the Periphery in Health and Disease. Biomedicines, 11, Article No. 2702. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11102702
[40]
Schad, S.E., Chow, A., Mangarin, L., Pan, H., Zhang, J., Ceglia, N., et al. (2022) Tumor-Induced Double Positive T Cells Display Distinct Lineage Commitment Mechanisms and Functions. JournalofExperimentalMedicine, 219, e20212169. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20212169
[41]
Nabi, R., Musarrat, F., Menk P. Lima, J.C., Langohr, I.M., Chouljenko, V.N. and Kousoulas, K.G. (2023) The Oncolytic Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) Vaccine Strain VC2 Causes Intratumor Infiltration of Functionally Active T Cells and Inhibition of Tumor Metastasis and Pro-Tumor Genes VEGF and PDL1 Expression in the 4t1/balb/c Mouse Model of Stage Four Breast Cancer. FrontiersinMolecularBiosciences, 10, Article ID: 1199068. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmolb.2023.1199068
[42]
He, B., Guo, W., Shi, R., Hoffman, R.D., Luo, Q., Hu, Y., et al. (2024) Ruyong Formula Improves Thymus Function of Cums-Stimulated Breast Cancer Mice. JournalofEthnopharmacology, 319, Article ID: 117164. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2023.117164
[43]
Velikkakam, T., Gollob, K.J. and Dutra, W.O. (2022) Double‐Negative T Cells: Setting the Stage for Disease Control or Progression. Immunology, 165, 371-385. https://doi.org/10.1111/imm.13441
[44]
Li, H., Boulougoura, A., Endo, Y. and Tsokos, G.C. (2022) Abnormalities of T Cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: New Insights in Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies. JournalofAutoimmunity, 132, Article ID: 102870. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2022.102870
[45]
Yang, L., Zhu, Y., Tian, D., Wang, S., Guo, J., Sun, G., et al. (2021) Transcriptome Landscape of Double Negative T Cells by Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. JournalofAutoimmunity, 121, Article ID: 102653. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaut.2021.102653
[46]
Wang, M., Wei, Y., Li, Y., Li, H., Jin, J., Lu, Y., et al. (2022) Targeting Breast Cancer with a Combination of DNT and LAG3 Checkpoint Blockage and Its Mechanism. Immunity, InflammationandDisease, 10, e626. https://doi.org/10.1002/iid3.626
[47]
Wu, Z., Zheng, Y., Sheng, J., Han, Y., Yang, Y., Pan, H., et al. (2022) CD3+CD4-CD8-(Double-Negative) T Cells in Inflammation, Immune Disorders and Cancer. FrontiersinImmunology, 13, Article ID: 816005. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.816005
[48]
Zhong, Z., Wu, J. and Zhu, H. (2024) Expression Characteristics and Diagnostic Value of Double Negative T Cells and T Lymphocyte Subsets in Breast Cancer. ChineseJournalofCancerPreventionandTreatment, 31, 492-499.
[49]
Zuo, Y.G., Liu, J.C., Guo, X., et al. (2022) Changes and Clinical Significance of Peripheral Blood T Lymphocytes and Double Negative T Cells in Breast Cancer. ChineseJournalofGeriatrics, 42, 5945-5950.