CD103 tumor-resident CD8 T cells are associated with improved survival in immunotherapy-naïve melanoma patients and expand significantly during anti-PD-1 treatment

Abstract

Purpose: Therapeutic blockade of immune checkpoints has revolutionized cancer treatment. Durable responses, however, occur in less than half of those treated, and efforts to improve treatment efficacy are confounded by a lack of understanding of the characteristics of the cells that initiate antitumor immune response. Patients and Methods: We performed multiparameter flow cytometry and quantitative multiplex immunofluorescence staining on tumor specimens from immunotherapy-naïve melanoma patients and longitudinal biopsy specimen obtained from patients undergoing anti-PD-1 therapy. Results: Increased numbers of CD69+CD103+ tumor-resident CD8+ T cells were associated with improved melanoma-spe..