Expansion of CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes with specific gene expression patterns may contribute to suppression of tumor immunity in oral squamous cell carcinoma: single-cell analysis and in vitro experiments

Abstract excerpt

Background Cancer immunotherapy targeting CD8+ T cells has made remarkable progress, even for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), a heterogeneous epithelial tumor without a substantial increase in the overall survival rate over the past decade. However, the therapeutic effects remain limited due to therapy resistance. Thus, a more comprehensive understanding of the roles of CD4+ T cells and B cells is crucial...