Role of CD4⁺ T cells in cancer immunity: a single-cell sequencing exploration of tumor microenvironment

Recent oncological research has intensely focused on the tumor immune microenvironment (TME), particularly the functions of CD4 + T lymphocytes. CD4⁺ T lymphocytes have been implicated in antigen presentation, cytokine release, and cytotoxicity, suggesting their contribution to the dynamics of the TME. Furthermore, the application of single-cell sequencing has yielded profound insights into the phenotypic diversity and functional specificity of CD4⁺ T cells in the TME. In this review, we discuss the current findings from single-cell analyses, emphasizing the heterogeneity of CD4⁺ T cell subsets and their implications in tumor immunology. In addition, we review the critical signaling pathways and molecular networks underpinning CD4⁺ T cell activities, thereby offering novel perspectives on therapeutic targets and strategies for cancer treatment and prognosis.