[Clinical Analysis of Primary Pulmonary Lymphoepithelioma-like Carcinoma in 8 Patients].

PPLELC is uncommon but distinct subtype of NSCLC with unique clinicopathologic characteristics that tends to affect young nonsmoking patients, without significant predilection for sex and with strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. Histology and immunohistochemistry are the main diagnostic methods. Rare or no driver gene mutations were found in the common oncogenes such as EGFR mutations and ALK gene rearrangement, implying that the mutagenesis of these genes was not involved in the tumorigenesis of PPLELC. PD-1 and PD-L1 may be potential therapeutic targets for PPLELC. The patients are diagnosed at an earlier stage and have a better prognosis than those with other non-small cell lung cancer. No standardized treatment regimens currently exist for this rare tumor. The mainstay of treatment for early-stage disease is curative surgical resection, whereas multimodality treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy) has been adopted in advanced or metastatic diseases. Due to its low incidence, further research is needed to determine its biological characteristics and optimal treatment options.