Phenotype of Circulating Tumor-Reactive T Cells Predicts Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Peripheral blood and tumor CD8+ T cells from non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) patients were analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing and T cell receptor (TCR) sequencing. Tumor-reactive T cells (TR-Ts) were identified based on reported gene signatures, and circulating TR-Ts (cTR-Ts) were traced by TCR sequences. Surface markers, transcriptional profiles, and phenotypic transitions of cTR-Ts were characterized, including progenitor-like and stem-like states. Data include paired tumor and peripheral blood single-cell transcriptomes and TCR sequences, supporting analysis of TR-T phenotypes and immune checkpoint inhibitor responses.