T cell anergy, exhaustion, senescence, and stemness in the tumor microenvironment

► We provide an updated view on effector T cell compartment in the tumor microenvironment. ► We describe dysfunctional T cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment. ► We discuss co-inhibitory and co-stimulatory molecular networks in the tumor microenvironment. ► We review stem like-memory T cell subsets (e.g. Th17) in the tumor microenvironment. ► We suggest anti-cancer modality by targeting T cell dysfunction and stemness.