Tumor context dictates reliance on Tcf1 for response to immunotherapy
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ABSTRACT: Stem-like CD8 + T cells are regulated by the transcription factor TCF1 and are key players in the response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). However, recent findings indicate that reliance on TCF1 + CD8 + stem-like T cells for ICB efficacy may not be equal across patients or tumor contexts. Here, we uncovered that TCF1-deficient CD8 + T cells showed defective priming in the tumor-draining lymph node of mice bearing poorly immunogenic tumors and that TCF1 regulates optimal T cell responsiveness to low TCR triggering. Importantly, we found that TCF1 was dispensable for therapy response in settings where ICB expanded intra-tumoral transitory effector-like cells. Conversely, TCF1 was required for ICB response in tumors that failed to expand cytotoxic effectors and accumulated Tox + dysfunctional T cells. In the absence of TCF1, dysfunctional T cells became destabilized and shared features with CD8 + T cells found in patients that fail ICB. Our study highlights a role for TCF1 in the early stages of the anti-tumor CD8 + T cell response with important implications for guiding optimal therapeutic interventions in cancers with low frequency of TCF1 + CD8 + T cells and low neoantigen levels.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE217038 | GEO | 2023/08/24
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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