Role of MAIT cells in gastrointestinal cancer
Mucosal-associated invariant T cells are enriched in mucosal and hepatic tissues and act as key immune sensors linking microbial-derived metabolites to gastrointestinal cancer immunity.
Across gastrointestinal cancers, mucosal-associated invariant T cells exhibit context-dependent roles, ranging from antitumor cytotoxicity to exhaustion or pro-tumorigenic inflammation.
Tumor microenvironment signals, including checkpoint pathways and microbial dysbiosis, critically shape mucosal-associated invariant T-cell function and fate.
Emerging strategies aim to enhance mucosal-associated invariant T-cell antitumor activity via cytokine priming, MHC class I-related molecule targeting, and combinatorial immunotherapy approaches.
Mucosal-associated invariant T cells hold promise as biomarkers and therapeutic targets, but their functional heterogeneity presents key translational challenges.
https://www.cell.com/trends/cancer/fulltext/S2405-8033(26)00220-7
