High CD38 expression defines a mitochondrial function-adapted CD8 T cell subset with implications for lung cancer immunotherapy.

Despite identifying specific CD8 T cell subsets associated with immunotherapy resistance, the molecular pathways driving this process remain elusive. Given the potential role of CD38 in regulating CD8 T cell function, we aimed to investigate the accumulation of CD38CD8 T cells in lung cancer and explore its role in immunotherapy resistance. Phenotypic analysis of tumoral CD8 T cells from both lung cancer patients and immunotherapy-resistant preclinical models revealed that CD38-expressing CD8 T cells consist of CD38 and CD38 subsets.

Combining local cryoablation with PD-L1 blockade synergistically eradicates established murine lung cancer by modulating mitochondrial in PD-1+CD8+ T cell.

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has shown improvement in overall survival for lung cancer in clinical trials. However, monotherapies have limited efficacy in improving outcomes and benefit only a subset of patients. Combination therapies targeting multiple pathways can augment an immune response to improve survival further.