An important question is how chemotherapy may (re-)activate tumor-specific immunity. In this study, we provide a phenotypic, functional and genomic analysis of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells in tumor (P815)-bearing mice, treated or not with cyclophosphamide. Our data show that chemotherapy favors the development of effector-type lymphocytes in tumor bed, characterized by higher KLRG-1 expression, lower PD-1 expression and increased cytotoxicity. This suggests re-engagement of T lymphocytes into the effector program. IFN-I appears involved in this remodeling. Our findings provide some insight into how cyclophosphamide regulates the amplitude and quality of tumor-specific immune responses.

Department of Molecular Biology ULB Cancer Research Center Université Libre de Bruxelles Gosselies Belgium

Institute of Biotechnology Academy of Science of the Czech Republic Prague Czech Republic

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research of the Université Catholique de Louvain Brussels Belgium

Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research of the University of Lausanne Epalinges Switzerland

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