Tumor-resident T cells and dendritic cells form an in situ archetype during immunotherapy response in melanoma.

Abstract

Tumor-resident (TR) T cells, known as tissue-resident memory (TRM) T cells in mice, play a central role in melanoma immunosurveillance, yet their contribution to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy has not been comprehensively explored. We performed spatial and single-cell profiling on 32 metastatic melanoma lymph node samples, from treatment-naïve, ICI-resistant and ICI-responsive patients. Here we show that tumor areas in ICI-responders were enriched for both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ TR. CD8⁺ TR cells were clonally expanded, and both CD8⁺ and CD4⁺ TR cells upregulated cytotoxicity-related gene expression, suggesting functional anti-tumor immunity. Conversely, ICI-resistant tumors displayed chronic IFN-γ response pathways, linked to T cell exhaustion. We further identified a spatially organized immune triad composed of CD8⁺ TR, CD4⁺ TR, and type-3 dendritic cells (DC3) that is exclusive to responding tumors. These findings define coordinated cellular interactions within the tumor microenvironment that underpin successful immunotherapy and provide a framework for spatial biomarkers of response.