Background and Objective: Lung cancer is a common and difficult-to-diagnose form of cancer. CD8+ T cells, a type of white blood cell, play a crucial role in the immune system's ability to recognize and eliminate cancerous cells. The presence of CD8+ T cells in lung cancer patients is associated with a better prognosis. Immunotherapy utilizing CD8+ T cells has shown promise in treating lung cancer and improving patient survival rates. However, there are challenges to using CD8+ T cells as a therapy. This article aims to explore the role of CD8+ cell in lung cancer. Methods: Literature searches were conducted using four databases, namely PubMed, Scopus, Central, and EBSCOhost. We used mesh terms and Boolean operators for optimal results. Key Content and Findings: T cells and B cells are important components of the immune system in fighting cancer. T cells, specifically CD8+ T cells, can identify and kill cancer cells, but they can also be inhibited by cancer cells. B cells recognize cancer cells and produce antibodies to fight them, but their effectiveness can be limited. CD8+ T cells play a role in lung cancer prognosis, and their activity is influenced by the tumor microenvironment. Understanding these immune system mechanisms can help develop more effective cancer treatments. Conclusions: CD8+ T cells play an important role in the body's immune system to fight lung cancer cells, through antigen recognition, effector mechanisms (granzyme and perforin), cytokine production, and activation of natural killer (NK) cells. © 2024 Kevin Aristyo et al., published by Sciendo.