Identification and Validation of a PD-L1 Binding Peptide for Determination of PDL1 Expression in Tumors

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 20;7(1):13682. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10946-2.

Abstract

Blocking the interaction between Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and its receptor, PD-1, is an effective method of treating many types of cancers. Certain tumors overexpress PD-L1, causing host immune cells that express PD-1 to bind PD-L1 and cease killing the tumor. Inhibition of PD-L1 and PD-1 binding can restore host immunity towards tumor killing, and many new drugs have been developed to target this interaction. Current methods of PD-L1 diagnosis have shown to vary based on the antibody, detection kit brand, antigen retrieval method, and clinically defined methods by the FDA. To refine detection of PD-L1, we have identified a peptide, RK-10, and used it to detect PD-L1 expressing tumors with immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry. Flow cytometry was performed on cell lines and patient tissues using a fluorescent peptide (RK-10-Cy5). Immunohistochemistry using a biotin-modified peptide (RK-10-Biotin) was tested against the FDA-approved SP263 clone on biopsied patient tissues. For this study, we evaluated specificity of RK-10 using IHC in over 200 patient tissues, including NSCLC and Hodgkin's Lymphoma. RK-10 shows staining in the tumor regions of FFPE tissues where the SP263 kit does not. RK-10-Cy5 peptide also demonstrates PD-L1 detection in NSCLC, breast, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Peptides, Cyclic / metabolism
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Peptides, Cyclic
  • cyclic peptide 24-41C