Evidence mapPaperPMID 41807341Full record

ReviewCell death discovery2026

Harnessing the immune microenvironment: advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma immunotherapy.

Yihua Zhu, Yongsheng Liu, Zhikang Yin, Caijing Ou, Xiao'an Guo, Xinru Zhu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cell death discovery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yihua ZhuJiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, People's Republic of China.
Yongsheng LiuJiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, People's Republic of China.
Zhikang YinDepartment of Otolaryngology, The First People's Hospital of Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Caijing OuDepartment of Otolaryngology, The First People's Hospital of Lin'an District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Xiao'an GuoJiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, People's Republic of China.
Xinru ZhuJiading Branch of Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 800 Huangjiahuayuan Road, Shanghai 201803, People's Republic of China. zhuxr1216@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4857-1702

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-driven malignancy with distinct geographic prevalence, presents as locally advanced or metastatic disease in over 70% of patients. Its unique tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibits dense immune infiltration paradoxically coupled with profound immunosuppression orchestrated by EBV through PD-L1 induction, antigen presentation disruption, immunosuppressive cell recruitment, and extracellular vesicle exploitation. These mechanisms underpin the rationale for immunotherapy, where PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have transformed management: phase III trials established PD-1 blockade combined with chemotherapy as first-line standard for recurrent/metastatic NPC, significantly improving survival, while integration into locoregionally advanced disease regimens enhances response rates and outcomes. Novel bispecific antibodies and rational combinations (with radiotherapy, anti-angiogenics, and EBV-targeted therapies) show promise in overcoming resistance. Biomarker advances extend beyond PD-L1 to include radiomics, AI-driven models, liquid biopsy markers (EBV-DNA dynamics, exosomal CA1), and tissue-based features (tertiary lymphoid structures, CD70/CD27 axis). Persistent challenges encompass EBV-mediated resistance, biomarker validation, and therapeutic optimization. This review comprehensively synthesizes the mechanistic basis of NPC immune evasion, clinical progress across diverse immunotherapies, biomarker-driven precision strategies, and emerging approaches to harness the immune microenvironment for improved patient outcomes.

Identifiers

PMID41807341
PMCPMC13039540

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.