PD-L1 expression in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms grade 3

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 14;15(12):e0243900. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243900. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms grade 3 (GEP-NENs G3) are rare tumors. These highly aggressive neoplasms are traditionally treated with platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with etoposide. Immune checkpoint proteins such as programmed cell death ligand (PD-L1) may have a role in different cancers allowing them escape the immune system and hence, progress. We aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in GEP-NEN G3 and evaluate its correlation to clinical parameters. In a cohort of 136 patients, 14 (10%) expressed PD-L1 immunoreactivity; four (3%) patients in the tumor cells and 10 (7%) had immunoreactive immune cells. PD-L1 expression did not correlate to clinical parameters, progression-free survival or overall survival. We conclude that PD-L1 expression is present only in a subset of GEP-NEN G3 patients. Further studies are needed to fully understand the role of PD-L1 in patients with GEP-NEN G3, including the future possibility for treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / immunology
  • Intestinal Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / genetics*
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / immunology
  • Neuroendocrine Tumors / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Progression-Free Survival
  • Stomach Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Stomach Neoplasms / immunology
  • Stomach Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • CD274 protein, human

Supplementary concepts

  • Gastro-enteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumor

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Swedish Cancer Society (ETJ CAN 18 0576, www.cancerfonden.se), the Lions Foundation for Cancer Research at the Uppsala University Hospital (ETJ), the Selander foundation (ETJ) and the foundation for International Studies at the Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen (UK).The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.