Tertiary lymphoid structures in cancer

Tertiary lymphoid structures in cancer Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) are lymphoid formations that are found in nonlymphoid tissues. TLS can develop in inflamed tissues and are associated with chronic inflammatory disorders, autoimmunity, and cancer. In the setting of tumors, TLSs facilitate the influx of immune cells into the tumor site and have therefore attracted interest as a means of improving anticancer immunity and favorable treatment response in patients. Schumacher and Thommen review the biology of TLSs and outline recent advances in TLS research. They discuss how TLSs are detected and defined, the mechanism(s) of formation in cancer, and the potential of targeting TLSs for therapeutic benefit. —PNK