肿瘤微环境中，T细胞一直是癌症控制的重要细胞和免疫治疗的目标，然而近来B细胞备受关注。B细胞与第三淋巴结构(TLS)相关，TLS位于肿瘤巢附近，B细胞的命运取决于TLS成熟度。在不成熟的TLS中，它们可以演变成产生免疫抑制细胞因子和促进肿瘤生长的调节性B细胞。在成熟的TLS中，B细胞被选择、扩增、经过亲和力成熟和同型转换，导致浆细胞生成和抗肿瘤抗体的产生。在这种情况下，它们与患者长期生存和免疫治疗的治疗反应相关。识别“在位”产生的抗体识别的特定于肿瘤或过度表达肿瘤的抗原以及它们与ICI治疗引起的自身抗原的鉴别是开发新型基于抗体的免疫治疗的主要挑战。版权所有©2022 Elsevier Ltd.

Whereas T cells in the tumor microenvironment have been the main focus as cancer controlling cells and targets of immunotherapies, B cells have recently gained strong attention. Being associated to Tertiary Lymphoid Structures (TLS) located at the vicinity of tumor nests, the fate of B cell depends on TLS maturity. In immature TLS they may evolve as regulatory B cells producing immunosuppressive cytokines and promote tumor growth. In mature TLS with a germinal center, B cells are selected, amplified, undergo affinity maturation and isotypic switching, resulting in plasma cell generation and production of anti-tumor antibodies. In that case, they are associated with longer patient's survival and therapeutic response to immunotherapy. Identification of tumor specific, or tumor overexpressed, antigens recognized by "in situ" produced antibodies and their discrimination from self-antigens induced by ICI treatments is a major challenge to develop novel antibody-based immunotherapies.Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.