T follicular helper cells in cancer
Nicolás Gutiérrez-Melo, Dirk Baumjohann
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.