TY  - JOUR
AU  - Heiduk, Max
AU  - Klimova, Anna
AU  - Reiche, Charlotte
AU  - Digomann, David
AU  - Beer, Carolin
AU  - Aust, Daniela E
AU  - Distler, Marius
AU  - Weitz, Jürgen
AU  - Seifert, Adrian M
AU  - Seifert, Lena
TI  - TIGIT Expression Delineates T-cell Populations with Distinct Functional and Prognostic Impact in Pancreatic Cancer.
JO  - Clinical cancer research
VL  - 29
IS  - 14
SN  - 1078-0432
CY  - Philadelphia, Pa. [u.a.]
PB  - AACR
M1  - DKFZ-2023-01473
SP  - 2638 - 2650
PY  - 2023
AB  - Immunotherapy has led to a fundamental shift in the treatment of several cancers. However, its efficacy in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is limited. Understanding the expression of inhibitory immune checkpoint receptors (ICR) by intratumoral T cells may help to unravel their involvement in insufficient T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity.Using multicolor flow cytometry, we analyzed circulating and intratumoral T cells from blood (n = 144) and matched tumor samples (n = 107) of patients with PDAC. We determined the expression of programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibition motif (ITIM) domains (TIGIT) by CD8+ T-cells, conventional CD4+ T-cells (Tconv) and regulatory T cells (Treg) and their association with T-cell differentiation, tumor reactivity, and cytokine expression. A comprehensive follow-up was used to determine their prognostic value.Intratumoral T cells were characterized by increased PD-1 and TIGIT expression. Both markers delineated distinct T-cell subpopulations. PD-1+TIGIT- T cells highly expressed proinflammatory cytokines and markers of tumor reactivity (CD39, CD103), whereas TIGIT expression was linked to antiinflammatory and exhausted phenotypes. In addition, the enhanced presence of intratumoral PD-1+TIGIT- Tconv was associated with improved clinical outcomes, while high ICR expression on blood T cells was a significant hazard for overall survival (OS).Our results uncover the association between ICR expression and T-cell functionality. PD-1 and TIGIT characterized intratumoral T cells with highly divergent phenotypes linked to clinical outcomes, further underscoring the relevance of TIGIT for immunotherapeutic approaches in PDAC. The prognostic value of ICR expression in patient blood may be a valuable tool for patient stratification.
KW  - Humans
KW  - Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor: metabolism
KW  - Prognosis
KW  - CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes
KW  - Receptors, Immunologic: genetics
KW  - Pancreatic Neoplasms: metabolism
KW  - Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor (NLM Chemicals)
KW  - Receptors, Immunologic (NLM Chemicals)
KW  - TIGIT protein, human (NLM Chemicals)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:37140899
C2  - pmc:PMC10345964
DO  - DOI:10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-23-0258
UR  - https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/277756
ER  -