Immune archetypes TIME classification system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A new direction for precision...

In the complex tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), tumor cells are typically surrounded by host immune components that can either suppress or promote tumor progression. The stromal compartment usually responds to tumor cells through inflammatory processes, often reflecting a single immune state or class. This pattern is also observed in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, recent advances in single-cell profiling have revealed that multiple distinct immune states can coexist around NPC tissues. In this review, we delineate and classify the immune "archetypes" of TMEs in NPC-defined as cellular assemblages and gene expression profiles that are characteristic and recurrent at the bulk tumor level. We further summarize studies suggesting that NPC TMEs can be broadly categorized into 11 major immune archetypes. Considering their potential evolutionary origins and functional roles, these archetypes appear to be associated with specific vulnerabilities within the TME, which may be exploited as therapeutic targets. Such insights may provide novel strategies for NPC treatment, thereby enhancing patient outcomes and improving prognosis.