How T Cells Transform to Defend Our Organs Against Cancer

A collaborative study led by researchers at the Cancer Institute has mapped the transcriptomic landscape of tissue-resident memory T cells across multiple organ sites, revealing how these immune sentinels adapt their anti-tumour programs to the unique microenvironments of the lung, liver, and gastrointestinal tract.

Using single-cell RNA sequencing on samples from over 200 patients, the team identified distinct gene expression signatures that predict which T cell populations are most effective at controlling local tumour growth. Notably, lung-resident T cells showed elevated expression of interferon-stimulated genes, while gut-resident populations relied more heavily on cytotoxic granule pathways.

These findings open the door to organ-specific immunotherapy strategies that could dramatically improve response rates by leveraging the natural specialisation of tissue-resident immunity.