PD-L1 Expression of Tumor Cells, Macrophages, and Immune Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with Malignant Pleural Effusion.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Whether immunohistochemical staining of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) on cells of pleural effusion could be used to predict response to immunotherapy treatment has not been reported.

METHODS:

We retrospectively enrolled patients who had undergone malignant pleural effusion drainage and had effusion cell block specimens from 2014 to 2016. Immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1 was performed with tumor cells, immune cells, and macrophages of all cell block specimens. Immunoactivity was scored as 0 for absence of staining and 1+ for faint, 2+ for moderate, and 3+ for intense membranous staining. Patients' clinicopathological characteristics were also collected.

RESULTS:

PD-L1 expression of pleural effusion tumor cells was associated with the PD-L1 expression of macrophages (p = 0.003) and immune cells (p < 0.001). However, the PD-L1 expression of immune cells was not associated with that of macrophages. The PD-L1 expression of tumor cells was correlated with sex (p = 0.012), smoking status (p = 0.032), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (p = 0.017). The PD-L1 expression of immune cells was associated with the overall survival of patients (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that there might be an immune interaction between pleural effusion tumor cells and macrophages. The low intensity of PD-L1 expression in immune cells is associated with the poor survival of patients with lung cancer with malignant pleural effusion.

• Authors: Yen-Han Tseng, Hsiang-Ling Ho, Chiung-Ru Lai, Yung-Hung Luo, Yen-Chiang Tseng, Jacqueline Whang-Peng, Yi-Hsuan Lin, Teh-Ying Chou, Yuh-Min Chen
• Journal: Journal of thoracic oncology : official publication of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (J Thorac Oncol) Vol. 13 Issue 3 Pg. 447-453 (03 2018) ISSN: 1556-1380 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29246835 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• B7-H1 Antigen
• CD274 protein, human

Topics

• B7-H1 Antigen (metabolism)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lung Neoplasms (genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Macrophages (metabolism)
• Male
• Pleural Effusion, Malignant (genetics, mortality, pathology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Survival Rate