Mathematical modeling studies on spatial profiles of cyotoxic T cells in solid tumors

Infiltration of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes into solid tumors is associated with good prognosis in various types of cancer, including Triple Negative Breast Cancers (TNBC). However, the mechanisms underlying different infiltration-levels are largely unknown. Here, we have characterized the spatial profile of CD8⁺ T cells around tumor-cell clusters in TNBC. Combining mathematical modeling and data analysis, we propose that there exists a possible chemo-repellent inside tumor-cell clusters, which prevents CD8⁺ T cells from infiltrating into tumor-cell clusters. Furthermore, investigation into the properties of collagen fibers suggests that variations in desmoplastic elements does not limit infiltration of CD8⁺ T lymphocytes into tumor-cell clusters, which is consistent with the prediction of our mathematical modeling analysis whereby CD8⁺ T cells are predicted to infiltrate the fibrotic barrier.