程序性细胞死亡配体 1 表达、分化簇 8 阳性 T 细胞浸润及相关免疫表型在肺浸润性黏液腺癌中的预后意义：多中心研究

The immune microenvironment of invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma of the lung (IMA), a rare and heterogeneous subtype, remains poorly characterized, limiting insights into its potential response to immunotherapy. In this multicenter study, we systematically evaluated programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression (using tumor proportion score, TPS, and combined positive score, CPS) and cluster of differentiation 8-positive (CD8 + ) tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) infiltration in the largest cohort to date of pathologically confirmed pure IMAs ( n = 312), supported by single cell transcriptomic analysis. PD-L1 positivity was low (TPS 1%: 9. 0%; CPS 1: 28. 5%). While PD-L1 alone showed no prognostic significance, high CD8 + TIL percentage and density were independent, favorable prognostic factors for relapse-free survival, particularly in patients not receiving adjuvant therapy.

By integrating TPS and CD8 + TIL percentage, we established a novel four-category immune phenotype classification that identified a distinct subgroup (Type IV: PD-L1 + /CD8 + ) with significantly better outcomes. Preliminary analysis of 20 patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors suggested that Type IV patients may derive greater clinical benefit.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses revealed a paucity of effector CD8 + T cells in IMA. This work defines the unique immune landscape of IMA, introduces a clinically relevant immune phenotyping framework with prognostic and predictive potential, and provides a rationale for future immunotherapeutic strategies in this rare malignancy.