1636-Phenotype of Circulating Tumor-Reactive T Cells

Paper Talk · Oct 2, 2026 · 23m

The research article explores how identifying tumor-reactive T cells (TR-Ts) in peripheral blood can predict patient responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). By employing single-cell RNA and TCR sequencing, the researchers identified unique surface markers—CD49a, CD49b, and HLA-DR—that distinguish these rare circulating cells from other T cells. The study reveals that these circulating cells act as less-exhausted progenitors for the T cells found within tumors. Crucially, the researchers found that patients who respond well to treatment show a shift toward stem-like phenotypes and…