TCF1+CD4+ T cells and microglia co-orchestrate tertiary lymphoid structures to enhance prognosis and immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer with brain metastases

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer brain metastases (NSCLC-BM) confer a poor prognosis, with only a minority of patients responding to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) have been linked to prognosis and response to immunotherapy across various tumours. Given the unique immune environment of brain metastases, TLSs within NSCLC-BM might exhibit distinct characteristics. Nevertheless, the function and formation mechanisms of these intracranial TLSs remain inadequately understood. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed 120 resected NSCLC-BM samples. Heterogeneity of TLS characteristics and functional states in NSCLC-BM was assessed using H the CQMU Program for Youth Innovation in Future Medicine (W0172); the Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (GZC20233356).