Programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma is associated with an inflammatory phenotype

Laveniya Satgunaseelan; Ruta Gupta; Jason Madore; Noel Chia; Trina Lum; Carsten E Palme; Michael Boyer; Richard A Scolyer; Jonathan R Clark

doi:10.1016/j.pathol.2016.07.003

Programmed cell death-ligand 1 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma is associated with an inflammatory phenotype

Pathology. 2016 Oct;48(6):574-80. doi: 10.1016/j.pathol.2016.07.003. Epub 2016 Aug 30.

Authors

Laveniya Satgunaseelan¹, Ruta Gupta², Jason Madore³, Noel Chia⁴, Trina Lum¹, Carsten E Palme⁵, Michael Boyer⁶, Richard A Scolyer⁷, Jonathan R Clark⁸

Affiliations

¹ Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
² Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: Ruta.Gupta@sswahs.nsw.gov.au.
³ Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.
⁴ South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
⁵ Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia.
⁶ Department of Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁷ Department of Tissue Pathology and Diagnostic Oncology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Melanoma Institute Australia, Sydney, Australia.
⁸ Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; South West Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Sydney Head and Neck Cancer Institute, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, Australia.

PMID: 27590194
DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2016.07.003

Abstract

Phase 2 clinical trials utilising novel anti-PD1/PD-L1 antibodies are being conducted in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. However, data regarding PD-L1 expression in OSCC is limited. The aim of this study was to characterise the PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression in OSCC and its association with clinicopathological factors. Clinicopathological review of 217 patients with OSCC was performed, including quantifying tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry with PD-L1, CD4 and CD8 was performed. Forty (18.3%) cases showed PD-L1 expression. Expression was significantly more frequent in females (p=0.013), tongue/buccal mucosal SCCs (p=0.05), and in tumours with a high lymphocytic infiltrate (p>0.001). Intratumoural heterogeneity of PD-L1 expression was observed in 30% of the cases. PD-L1 expression was not significantly associated with disease-free (p=0.82) or overall survival (p=0.93). PD-L1 expression occurred in a significant minority of OSCC and can be heterogeneous. Frequent PD-L1 expression in OSCCs in females and in tumours with high lymphocytic infiltrate may assist in the selection of patients who may respond to anti-PD1/PD-L1 therapies.

Keywords: Immunology; OSCC; PD-L1; heterogeneity; immunotherapy; pathology; survival.

MeSH terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
B7-H1 Antigen / analysis
B7-H1 Antigen / biosynthesis*
Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis*
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / metabolism
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / mortality
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology*
Disease-Free Survival
Female
Head and Neck Neoplasms / metabolism
Head and Neck Neoplasms / mortality
Head and Neck Neoplasms / pathology*
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Inflammation / metabolism
Inflammation / pathology
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Male
Middle Aged
Mouth Neoplasms / metabolism
Mouth Neoplasms / mortality
Mouth Neoplasms / pathology*
Phenotype
Prognosis
Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
Tissue Array Analysis

Substances

B7-H1 Antigen
Biomarkers, Tumor
CD274 protein, human