SynthesisBMC cancer2025
The predictive value of intratumoral tertiary lymphoid structures on the response to immunotherapy in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Beyond TLS Presence: A Functional Framework Integrating Maturity, Location, and Immune Context.Cancers · 2026Review
- Improving stratification in HPV-negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) using emerging immune-based biomarkers.Translational cancer research · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundAn increasing number of studies have demonstrated tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) was associated with prognosis and therapeutic response of immunotherapy in cancer patients. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the predictive value of intratumoral TLS on the response to immunotherapy in cancer patients and provide evidence regarding the potential of TLS as a novel predictive biomarker for immunotherapy efficacy.
methodsA systematic literature search was performed based on three databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) to identify eligible studies up to January 5th, 2024. The pooled hazard ratios (HRs) and odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the predictive value of TLS expression levels on the response to immunotherapy in cancer patients. Subgroup analysis, publication bias and sensitivity analysis were subsequently performed.
resultsA total of 15 studies with 1,307 cancer patients were included in this meta-analysis. Increased levels of intratumoral TLS were associated with higher positive response rates in cancer patients treated with immunotherapy (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 2.45-7.21, P < 0.001). In addition, higher intratumoral TLS levels were associated with better overall survival (HR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.54-0.83, P < 0.001), progression-free survival (HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.52-0.75, P < 0.001), and disease-free survival (HR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03-0.23, P < 0.001) in cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. The robustness and reliability of the results were confirmed through publication bias and sensitivity analysis.
conclusionsHigh expression of TLS in tumor tissues was associated with higher positive response rates to immunotherapy and better survival outcomes, indicating its potential to serve as a promising therapeutic and prognostic biomarker for cancer patients receiving immunotherapy.
trial registrationThe protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered on the PROSPERO website ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ), with the registration number CRD42023470277.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.