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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
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Tumor Transplantation for Assessing the Dynamics of Tumor-Infiltrating CD8+ T Cells in Mice
Published on: June 12, 2021
Deciphering CD8+ T cell exhaustion in human cancers through single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
Zi-Xuan Gou1, Xiao-Jun Huang1, Xiang-Yu Zhao1
1Peking University People's Hospital, Peking University Institute of Hematology, National Clinical Research Center for Hematologic Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies, Peking University, Beijing, 100044, China.
Cancer Letters
|July 28, 2026
Summary
Exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex) hinder anti-tumor immunity. Advanced omics technologies reveal Tex heterogeneity and interactions, guiding improved immunotherapies targeting these cells for better cancer treatment outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cancer Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- Exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex) in the tumor microenvironment (TME) limit anti-tumor immune responses by upregulating inhibitory receptors and reducing cytotoxicity.
- Limited understanding of Tex genomic features and regulatory networks restricts the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapy, with only a minority of patients responding.
- Functional heterogeneity among Tex subpopulations complicates therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent advances in high-resolution omics technologies for dissecting Tex heterogeneity, functional features, and cellular interactions.
- To emphasize the importance of optimizing Tex-targeted immunotherapies for enhanced anti-tumor responses.
- To provide theoretical foundations for developing more effective cancer immunotherapies.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) for high-resolution transcriptomic profiling of Tex subpopulations.
- Spatial transcriptomics to map the spatial distribution and interaction networks of Tex within the TME.
- Integration of omics data to define genomic characteristics and regulatory networks of Tex.
Main Results:
- scRNA-seq identified diverse Tex subpopulations with distinct marker genes and regulatory pathways.
- Spatial transcriptomics revealed the impact of spatial heterogeneity on Tex functionality and interactions with tumor and immune cells.
- The dynamic and modifiable nature of Tex exhaustion, linked to tumor progression and therapeutic response, was highlighted.
Conclusions:
- High-resolution omics technologies are crucial for precisely dissecting Tex heterogeneity and functionality.
- Understanding Tex interactions and genomic features is vital for improving ICB therapy efficacy.
- Optimizing Tex-targeted strategies offers a promising direction for developing more effective anti-tumor immunotherapies.
