Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes in Breast and Female Genital Tract Cancers: Overlooked Potential and Unexplored Frontiers

Abstract

Background

The growing success of cancer immunotherapies has led to significant advances in oncology. However, despite these promising developments, cancer-related mortality remains high for common cancer types such as breast and lower female genital tract cancers.

Method

Here, we synthesize recent findings on the prognostic relevance of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in breast, endometrial, tubo-ovarian, and vulvar cancer. Our analysis covers the relationship between TIL counts and density, immune cell subtype combinations, immunotherapy approaches, and patient outcomes.

Results

High TIL infiltration, especially CD8⁺ T-cells, generally correlates with improved outcomes such as in endometrial cancer (especially the POLE-ultramutated subgroup), invasive breast cancer, and ovarian epithelial tumors. However, in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast, elevated TIL counts are linked to a worse prognosis. Ethnicity, the tumor microenvironment (TME), and molecular profiles further complicate the prognostic utility of TILs.

Conclusions

TIL-based therapies have shown potential in personalized immunotherapy, particularly in recurrent, refractory ovarian cancer. Limited research on rarer gynecologic tumors hinders broader clinical applications.