Breaking the mold: Unconventional T cells in cancer therapy

Yan-Ruide Li; Kuangyi Zhou; Yichen Zhu; Tyler Halladay; Lili Yang

doi:10.1016/j.ccell.2024.11.010

Breaking the mold: Unconventional T cells in cancer therapy

Cancer Cell. 2024 Dec 6:S1535-6108(24)00445-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.11.010. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yan-Ruide Li¹, Kuangyi Zhou¹, Yichen Zhu¹, Tyler Halladay¹, Lili Yang²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
² Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. Electronic address: liliyang@ucla.edu.

PMID: 39672171
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2024.11.010

Abstract

Unconventional T cells, including invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells, gamma delta (γδ) T cells, and mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, play important roles in both innate and adaptive immunity. These cells respond to tumors rapidly and influence the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent advances in understanding their biology, as well as the development of novel therapeutic approaches, have underscored their potential in cancer immunotherapy. This commentary will assess these advances and translational possibilities in the field.