[PDF][PDF] Neoantigen-specific CD4+ T cells in human melanoma have diverse differentiation states and correlate with CD8+ T cell, macrophage, and B cell function

JR Veatch, SM Lee, C Shasha, N Singhi, JL Szeto… - Cancer Cell, 2022 - cell.com
JR Veatch, SM Lee, C Shasha, N Singhi, JL Szeto, AS Moshiri, TS Kim, K Smythe, P Kong…
Cancer Cell, 2022cell.com
CD4+ T cells that recognize tumor antigens are required for immune checkpoint inhibitor
efficacy in murine models, but their contributions in human cancer are unclear. We used
single-cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor sequences to identify signatures and
functional correlates of tumor-specific CD4+ T cells infiltrating human melanoma.
Conventional CD4+ T cells that recognize tumor neoantigens express CXCL13 and are
subdivided into clusters expressing memory and T follicular helper markers, and those …
Summary
CD4+ T cells that recognize tumor antigens are required for immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy in murine models, but their contributions in human cancer are unclear. We used single-cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor sequences to identify signatures and functional correlates of tumor-specific CD4+ T cells infiltrating human melanoma. Conventional CD4+ T cells that recognize tumor neoantigens express CXCL13 and are subdivided into clusters expressing memory and T follicular helper markers, and those expressing cytolytic markers, inhibitory receptors, and IFN-γ. The frequency of CXCL13+ CD4+ T cells in the tumor correlated with the transcriptional states of CD8+ T cells and macrophages, maturation of B cells, and patient survival. Similar correlations were observed in a breast cancer cohort. These results identify phenotypes and functional correlates of tumor-specific CD4+ T cells in melanoma and suggest the possibility of using such cells to modify the tumor microenvironment.
cell.com