The above results indicated that in the invasive margin of early CRC, activated CD8 + Tex cells facilitated the spatial accumulation of a substantial number of CD4 + Tfh cells and BGC cells by secreting chemokine CXCL13, which enhanced the CD40–CD40L interaction and ultimately promoted the formation and maturation of germinal centers within TLS. Here, CD40 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.