Fig. 3

Immunophenotypes and their relation to immune cycle dysfunction. Based on distribution of effector T cells, revealed by staining for anti-CD3 reactive cells, tumors can be classified into three immunophenotypes. Immune-deserted tumors show an absence of effector T cells due to a lack of immunogenicity leading to poor T cell activation (stages 1-3 of the immune cycle, centre). Immune-excluded tumors show T cell accumulation surrounding the tumor parenchyma resulting from impaired trafficking and tumor infiltration (stages 4-5). Immune-enriched tumors show infiltration with functionally impaired T cells as a result of immune suppressive activities conferred by Tregs and other negative regulatory cells (stages 6-7)