Background & Aims Limited data are available for tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (EBV-LELCC), a rare subtype of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). We aimed to investigate TIME features in EBV-LELCC and the correlation between the components of TIME and the clinical outcomes.Methods Tumor tissues from Five EBV-LELCC cases con rmed through EBER in situ hybridization and ve stage-matched conventional IHCC (non-EBV IHCC) cases were collected. These samples were used to evaluate genetic alterations, TIME composition, and PD-L1 expression through ion AmpliSeq comprehensive cancer panel, PanCancer immune pro ling panel, immunohistochemistry, and immuno uorescence staining. The correlation between clinical outcomes and TIME components was analyzed in the two EBV-LELCC cases receiving anti-PD-1 treatment.
ResultsThe genetic mutations identi ed in EBV-LELCC were BARD1, CD19, CD79B, EPHA5, KDM5A, MUC6, MUC16, PTEN, RECQL4, TET1, and TNFAIP3. PD-L1 was highly expressed in tumor-in ltrating immune cells, especially the T cells and macrophages. The TIME of EBV-LELCC displayed abundant immune cell in ltration with a stronger adaptive immune response. Increased Th1 cells, NK CD56 dim cells, and M1 macrophages, decreased M2 macrophages, exhausted CD8 T cell in ltration, and increased T cell activation signatures in TIME were associated with longer survival. Two patients with metastatic EBV-LELCC had good disease control after anti-PD-1 antibody treatment. A signi cantly larger TIME component made EBV-LELCCs more sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). Conclusion A better understanding of the composition of TIME in EBV-LELCC is critical for predicting the clinical outcomes of ICB treatment. Lay Summary Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoepithelioma-like cholangiocarcinoma (EBV-LELCC) is a unique variant of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with dense in ltration of immune cells, different genetic backgrounds, and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). The components of TIME may predict clinical outcome in EBV-LELCC and can potentially be exploited to enhance the e cacy of immunotherapy. Patients with EBV-LELCC are good candidates for the clinical bene t from immunotherapy.