Tumor-infiltrating B cells affect the progression of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma via cell-to-cell interactions with CD8+ T cells

Our results indicate that high abundance of TIL-Bs and high density of direct B cell/CD8⁺ T cell interactions can predict patients with excellent prognosis, who would benefit from less invasive treatment. We propose that in extensively infiltrated tumors, TIL-Bs might recruit CD8⁺ T cells via CXCL9 and due to a highly activated phenotype contribute by secondary costimulation to the maintenance of CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor microenvironment.