ABSTRACT Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have reshaped therapeutic strategies in lung cancer, their benefits remain limited. ICIs exert their therapeutic efficacy by activating T‐cell effector functions, underscoring the central role of T cells in antitumor immunity. Thus, this review focuses on the role of T cells in lung cancer and summarises recent advances. Tumour‐specific CD8 + T cells that attack tumour cells directly form the core of antitumor immunity, yet chronic antigenic stimulation drives functional impairment and exhaustion that constrain treatment responsiveness. Conversely, regulatory T cells modulate immune responses through diverse suppressive mechanisms and influence clinical outcomes. In addition, tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) that arise within tumours can amplify local immunity through interactions among follicular helper T cells, B cells, and other immune subsets, and are increasingly linked to therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. Emerging evidence also indicates that metabolic features of the tumour microenvironment modulate T‐cell differentiation and persistence. Collectively, these insights provide a foundation for translating an improved understanding of T‐cell–centred immune responses and their regulatory circuits into clinical practice. Overall, clarifying T‐cell functional states is essential for optimising immunotherapy and achieving durable benefit in lung cancer.
Yamada et al. (2026) studied this question.