PD-L1 expression in lung adenosquamous carcinomas compared with the more common variants of non-small cell lung cancer

Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 7:7:46209. doi: 10.1038/srep46209.

Abstract

Lung adenosquamous cell carcinomas (ASCs) is a rare variant of NSCLC with a poorer prognosis and fewer treatment option than the more common variants. PD-L1 expression is reported to be the predictor of clinical response in trials of NSCLC. In our study, PD-L1 expression was evaluated via immunohistochemistry using a specific monoclonal antibody (SP263), and PD-L1 mRNA expression was evaluated via in situ hybridization. This study included 51 ASCs, 133 lung adenocarcinomas, and 83 lung squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Similar results were obtained for PD-L1 expression measured at the mRNA and protein level (k coefficient, 0.851, P = 1.000). PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in the squamous versus glandular component of the 36 ASCs in which the components were analyzed separately. The PD-L1 expression rate was similar in the squamous cell component of ASCs and lung SCC (38.89% vs. 28.92%, P = 0.293), so does the adenocarcinoma component of ASCs and lung adenocarcinomas (11.11% vs 13.53%, P = 1.000). PD-L1 expression correlated significantly with lymphovascular invasion (P = 0.016), but not with EGFR, KRAS, and ALK mutations in lung ASCs. Anit-PD-L1 is a promising treatment option in lung ASC cases in which PD-L1 upregulated and EGFR mutations are present.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics*
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / mortality
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / pathology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Oncogenes
  • Tumor Burden

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD274 protein, human