T cell fate regulation in EBV‑associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (Review)

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a malignancy associated with Epstein‑Barr virus, presents a complex immune editing landscape in which T cell fate determination carries out a central role. T cell metabolic exhaustion, Epstein‑Barr virus antigen presentation and tertiary lymphoid structure remodeling are important in the context of tumor immune evasion. Although individual mechanisms have been extensively studied, their interplay and collective contribution to immune editing remain incompletely understood. The present review summarizes the current advances in nasopharyngeal carcinoma immune editing, with a focus on the molecular network underlying T cell fate decisions. How these mechanisms can be leveraged to develop novel immunotherapeutic strategies is further discussed. By integrating recent findings, the present review aims to offer new insights into the intricate immune landscape of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and to provide a theoretical basis for improving immunotherapy efficacy.