Distribution of Immune Cells in Tumor Microenvironment Correlates With Checkpoint Inhibitor Response in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Multiregional Study
PURPOSE: This study investigated whether the benefit of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC) from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-containing regimens was correlated with the presence of tumor microenvironment (TME) cell subpopulations that correlate with clinical outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 73 patients with R/M NPC from four prospective trials in three centers using nivolumab monotherapy, nivolumab + gemcitabine, nivolumab + ipilimumab, or avelumab + axitinib were included. Lunit SCOPE IO, an artificial intelligence-powered spatial TME analyzer, analyzed tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), macrophages (MPs), fibroblasts (FBs), and endothelial cells in the intratumoral area and adjacent stroma. RESULTS: < .05). CONCLUSION: The results from this multinational cohort suggest that high intratumoral infiltrations of TILs and MPs, along with low stromal FB densities, may be associated with better response to ICI-containing treatment in NPC. Further studies in larger, expanded cohorts are warranted, and prospective validation is needed.
Authors
- Yoojoo Lim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4181-2916)
- Sze Huey Tan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3089-7379)
- Chiyoon Oum (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4264-7342)
- Siraj Ali
- Boon Cher Goh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4107-102X)
- Chan‐Young Ock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6755-9728)
- Hsiang‐Fong Kao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9186-0134)
- Bhumsuk Keam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8196-4247)
- Keun‐Wook Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8491-703X)
- Brigette Ma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4802-1102)
- Anthony T C Chan
- Hyun Ae Jung
- Darren Wan-Teck Lim
- J. Yeong
- Keon-Uk Park
- Edwin P. Hui
- Seungeun Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-6791-8296)
Institutions
- Agency for Science, Technology and Research (SG)
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Samsung Medical Center (KR)
- Seoul National University Hospital (KR)
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (KR)
- National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (SG)
- Duke-NUS Medical School (SG)
- National Taiwan University Hospital (TW)
- National Cancer Centre Singapore (SG)
- Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital (KR)
- Keimyung University (KR)
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (SG)
- Sungkyunkwan University (KR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- JCO Global Oncology
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1200/go-25-00474
- Primary Topic
- Cancer Immunotherapy and Biomarkers
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00