T follicular helper cells in cancer

Nicolás Gutiérrez-Melo; Dirk Baumjohann

doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2022.12.007

T follicular helper cells in cancer

Trends Cancer. 2023 Apr;9(4):309-325. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.12.007. Epub 2023 Jan 14.

Authors

Nicolás Gutiérrez-Melo¹, Dirk Baumjohann²

Affiliations

¹ Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immuno-Oncology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany.
² Medical Clinic III for Oncology, Hematology, Immuno-Oncology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: dirk.baumjohann@uni-bonn.de.

PMID: 36642575
DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2022.12.007

Abstract

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells provide essential help to B cells for effective antibody-mediated immune responses. Although the crucial function of these CD4⁺ T cells in infection and vaccination is well established, their involvement in cancer is only beginning to emerge. Increased numbers of Tfh cells in Tfh cell-derived or B cell-associated malignancies are often associated with an unfavorable outcome, whereas in various solid organ tumor types of non-lymphocytic origin, their presence frequently coincides with a better prognosis. We discuss recent advances in understanding how Tfh cell crosstalk with B cells and CD8⁺ T cells in secondary and tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) enhances antitumor immunity, but may also exacerbate immune-related adverse events (irAEs) such as autoimmunity during immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) and cancer immunotherapy.

Keywords: B cell; CXCL13; TLS; Tfh cell; cancer; irAEs.

Publication types

Review
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

B-Lymphocytes
CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
Humans
Neoplasms* / therapy
T Follicular Helper Cells
T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer*