Lung tissue T cells are activated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with non-small cell lung cancer patients

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with COPD have been shown to exhibit favorable responses to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy. In the present study, we investigated T cell profiles and functions in the lung tissues of NSCLC patients with or without COPD to provide the rationale for immunotherapy of NSCLC patients with COPD. Abundant PD-1⁺ and Tim-3⁺ T cells were detected in the lung tumor tissues of NSCLC patients with COPD. On the other hand, CD103⁺ tissue-resident memory T (T_RM) cells in non-tumor lung tissues were more abundant in NSCLC patients with than in those without COPD. Furthermore, the abundance of CD103⁺ T_RM cells in non-tumor lung tissues correlated with IFN-γ production and COPD-related clinical parameters (pack-years smoking history and the FEV1/FVC ratio). In NSCLC patients with COPD, T cells were active participants in both the non-tumor and the lung tumor tissues, suggesting the potential response to immunotherapy.