CD8+ T cells in the cancer-immunity cycle

Summary

CD8⁺ T cells are end effectors of cancer immunity. Most forms of effective cancer immunotherapy involve CD8⁺ T cell effector function. Here, we review the current understanding of T cell function in cancer, focusing on key CD8⁺ T cell subtypes and states. We discuss factors that influence CD8⁺ T cell differentiation and function in cancer through a framework that incorporates the classic three-signal model and a fourth signal—metabolism—and also consider the impact of the tumor microenvironment from a T cell perspective. We argue for the notion of immunotherapies as "pro-drugs" that act to augment or modulate T cells, which ultimately serve as the drug in vivo, and for the importance of overall immune health in cancer treatment and prevention. The progress in understanding T cell function in cancer has and will continue to improve harnessing of the immune system across broader tumor types to benefit more patients.