{
  "abstract": "Whether human tumor-specific CD4 T cells can drive antitumor immunity in cancers lacking tumor-cell MHC class II expression has not been established. In MHC class II-negative melanoma and breast cancer, CD4 T cells with a transcriptional signature of tumor specificity correlated with myeloid and CD8 T cell activation. Using a patient-derived NY-ESO-specific, HLA-DP04-restricted TCR, we tested whether human CD4 T cells could control tumors through indirect antigen presentation. In vitro, CD4 T cells inhibited HLA-DP-negative melanoma growth through recognition of tumor-derived antigen on antigen presenting cells (APC). In humanized mice, CD4 T cell transfer induced regression of HLA-DP-negative tumors, and control required HLA-matched human APCs. CD4 T cell transfer induced endogenous CD8 T cell proliferation and myeloid activation that mirrored immune programs correlated with the presence of these cells in patients. These findings establish that human tumor-specific CD4 T cells coordinate antitumor immunity through APC without direct tumor recognition, supporting their therapeutic relevance in MHC class II-negative cancers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 17,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "G. Roy"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Ruterbusch"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Bakhtiari"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Shasha"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. M. Lee"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. S. Moshiri"
    },
    {
      "name": "C. Wood"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. Hopwo"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Witkowski"
    },
    {
      "name": "J. Szeto"
    },
    {
      "name": "N. Singhi"
    },
    {
      "name": "M. Iuliano"
    },
    {
      "name": "S. Guenette"
    },
    {
      "name": "K. M. McKenna"
    },
    {
      "name": "E. Newell"
    },
    {
      "name": "A. Rongvaux"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "J. R. Veatch"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b8f944x658zhy.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.30.755788",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.30.755788v1.full",
  "id": "b8f944x658zhy",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.30.755788v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "immunology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2403|Immunotherapy and Immune Responses"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7220854221",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.30.755788v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-30",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b8f944x658zhy.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:26:28Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.30.755788",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.30.755788v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:immunology",
      "subfield": "immunology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Human CD4 T cells coordinate antitumor immunity through indirect antigen presentation",
  "title_text": "Human CD4 T cells coordinate antitumor immunity through indirect antigen presentation",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:26:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/b8f944x658zhy",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}