Epidemiology, molecular characteristics, and clinical application of immunotherapy strategies for EBV-associated gastric cancer

<p indent="0mm">EBV-associated gastric cancer (EBVaGC) is a type of gastric cancer related to the infection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), with a low incidence rate. EBVaGC tends to occur in younger patients, male predominance, and is often diagnosed as locally advanced with a good prognosis. The tumor microenvironment of EBVaGC is characterized by significant lymphocyte infiltration, contributing to a more active immune landscape. Patients with advanced EBVaGC have a higher response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors compared to patients with ordinary gastric cancer. This article reviews the disease characteristics and the treatment progress of EBVaGC.