Abstract | INTRODUCTION: METHODS: HER2-positive breast cancer cases receiving neoadjuvant treatment ( NAT; n = 155) were retrospectively collected from July 2013 to November 2018. Histopathologic analysis of TILs was performed on hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained sections from pre- and post- NAT specimens. The TIL score as a categorical variable can be divided into high (≥30%) and low (<30%) categories. The expression of PD-L1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the percentage of positive membranous staining (at least 1%) in tumor cells (PD-L1+TC) and TILs (PD-L1+TILs) was scored. RESULTS: In our study, 87 patients received neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone and 68 received neoadjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that lymph node metastasis, high TILs, and PD-L1+TILs in pre- neoadjuvant therapy specimens were independent predictors of pathological complete response (pCR) in neoadjuvant therapy (p < 0.05, for all). Among all patients, TILs were increased in breast cancer tissues post- neoadjuvant therapy (p < 0.001). Consistent results were found in the subgroup analysis of the trastuzumab plus chemotherapy group and the chemotherapy alone group (p < 0.05, for both). In 116 non-pCR patients, PD-L1+TC was decreased in breast cancer tissues post- neoadjuvant therapy (p = 0.0219). Consistent results were found in 43 non-pCR patients who received neoadjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy (p = 0.0437). However, in 73 non-pCR patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, there was no significant difference in PD-L1+TC expression in pre- and post- neoadjuvant therapy specimens (p = 0.1465). On the other hand, in the general population, the neoadjuvant trastuzumab plus chemotherapy group, and the neoadjuvant chemotherapy group, PD-L1+TILs decreased after treatment (p < 0.05, for both). CONCLUSION:
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Authors | Mao Shang, Yajing Chi, Jianbo Zhang, Jin Chang, Hui Yang, Sha Yin, Qiaorui Tan, Xiaochu Man, Huihui Li |
Journal | Frontiers in oncology
(Front Oncol)
Vol. 11
Pg. 706606
( 2021)
ISSN: 2234-943X [Print] Switzerland |
PMID | 35070953
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2022 Shang, Chi, Zhang, Chang, Yang, Yin, Tan, Man and Li. |