Effector CD8⁺ T cells are typically thought to be a homogenous group of cytotoxic cells that produce interferon-(IFN) γ. However, recent findings have challenged this notion because multiple subsets of CD8⁺ T cells have been described, each with distinct effector functions and cytotoxic potential. These subsets, referred to as the Tc subsets, have also been detected in tumor microenvironments (TMEs), where they potentially influence the antitumor response and patient outcomes. In this review, we highlight the prevalence and roles of Tc subsets in the TME. We also discuss their therapeutic applications in the context of adoptive immunotherapy to treat cancer.

通常认为效应物CD8 ⁺ T细胞是产生干扰素（IFN）γ的同质细胞毒性细胞。然而，最近的发现挑战了这一观点，因为已经描述了CD8 ⁺ T细胞的多个亚群，每个亚群具有不同的效应子功能和细胞毒性潜能。这些子集（称为Tc子集）也已在肿瘤微环境（TME）中检测到，它们可能影响抗肿瘤反应和患者预后。在这篇综述中，我们着重介绍了TME中Tc子集的流行和作用。我们还将在过继免疫疗法治疗癌症的背景下讨论其治疗应用。