Perspectives for immunotherapy of EBV-associated GLELC: A relatively "hot" tumor microenvironment.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (EBVaGLELC) represents a small number of gastric cancer (GC), and research on tumor microenvironment (TME) and treatment strategy are still lacking.

AIMS: Here, we aim to elucidate the immune features of this rare disease and further help to develop more effective treatment options.

MATERIALS & METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted between 2019 to 2022 in West China Hospital to reveal the immunological characteristics of EBV-positive GLELC. The difference of immune cell subset and tumor vascular structure between gastric denocarcinoma (GAC) and EBVaGLELC will be pointed out.

DISCUSSION: 13 patients with GELEC and 8 patients with GAC were retrospectively studied. The heterogeneity of the immune cell profile was then confirmed through multiplexed immunofluorescence staining (mIF), which revealed a higher proportion of CD3+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and Treg cells in the EBV-associated GLELC group. Such a distinct TME may provide therapeutic advantages, and patients with this rare subtype of GC could be good candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Angiogenesis in EBV-positive GLELC may be less intense than that in gastric adenocarcinoma (GAC), a feature that might decrease their susceptibility to antiangiogenic therapy. Furthermore, we reported a 52-year-old male with advanced EBV-positive GLELC who showed a favorable response to the combined therapy with . A repeat evaluation showed sustained partial response (PR), and the progression-free survival (PFS) was more than 34 months until now.

CONCLUSION: Compared with GAC, EBVaGLELC revealed higher T cell infiltration and less intense of angiogenesis. It displays relatively "hot" TME that may provide the rationality to treat with immunotherapy in EBV-related GLELC.