Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is able to drive metastasis during 
progression of multiple cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer 
(NSCLC). As resistance to immunotherapy has been associated with EMT and immune 
exclusion in melanoma, it is important to understand alterations to T-cell 
infiltration and the tumor microenvironment during EMT in lung adenocarcinoma 
and squamous cell carcinoma. We conducted an integrated analysis of the immune 
landscape in NSCLCs through EMT scores derived from a previously established 16 
gene signature of canonical EMT markers. EMT was associated with exclusion of 
immune cells critical in the immune response to cancer, with significantly lower 
infiltration of CD4 T-cells in lung adenocarcinoma and CD4/CD8 T-cells in 
squamous cell carcinoma. EMT was also associated with increased expression of 
multiple immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10 and TGF-β. Furthermore, 
overexpression of targetable immune checkpoints, such as CTLA-4 and TIM-3 were 
associated with EMT in both NSCLCs. An association may exist between immune 
exclusion and EMT in NSCLC. Further investigation is merited as its mechanism is 
not completely understood and a better understanding of this association could 
lead to the development of biomarkers that could accurately predict response to 
immunotherapy.