PD-L1 is highly expressed in lung lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma: A potential rationale for immunotherapy
Journal
Lung Cancer
Journal Volume
88
Journal Issue
3
Pages
254-259
Date Issued
2015
Abstract
Objectives: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and driver mutations are found in non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) and may be suitable targets for specific therapies, but their roles in lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the lung are unclear. Materials and methods: Sixty-six patients with pulmonary LELCs were investigated. Paraffin-embedded tumor sections were stained with PD-L1 antibody. Tumors with moderate-to-strong membrane staining in ?5% of tumor cells were positive for PD-L1 overexpression. The presence of driver mutations in the genes for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), KRAS, and BRAF were examined by direct sequencing. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and ROS1 levels were determined by immunohistochemistry. Correlations of PD-L1 expression and driver mutations with clinicopathologic parameters were analyzed. Results: The overall frequency of PD-L1 overexpression and EGFR mutation was 75.8% and 12.1%, respectively. No KRAS, BRAF, ALK or ROS1 aberrations could be detected. PD-L1 expression was not associated with driver mutations. Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking and advanced stage were independent risk factors for poor overall survival, whereas PD-L1 positivity was not significantly associated with patient outcome. Conclusion: There are high PD-L1 expression and infrequent driver mutations in LELCs compared with conventional NSCLCs. The high expression of PD-L1 in EBV and inflammation associated LELC may provide a rationale for immunotherapy in this subtype of lung cancer. ? 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
SDGs
Other Subjects
anaplastic lymphoma kinase; B Raf kinase; cisplatin; docetaxel; epidermal growth factor receptor; gefitinib; gemcitabine; programmed death 1 ligand 1; anaplastic lymphoma kinase; B Raf kinase; epidermal growth factor receptor; oncoprotein; programmed death 1 ligand 1; protein tyrosine kinase; Ras protein; ROS1 protein, human; adjuvant chemoradiotherapy; adult; advanced cancer; aged; ALK gene; Article; BRAF gene; cancer immunotherapy; cancer palliative therapy; chemoradiotherapy; controlled study; East Asian; EGFR gene; Epstein Barr virus; female; gene; gene mutation; human; human tissue; immunohistochemistry; in situ hybridization; lung carcinoma; lung lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma; lymphocytic infiltration; lymphoepithelioma; major clinical study; male; middle aged; multiple cycle treatment; mutational analysis; oncogene K ras; outcome assessment; overall survival; priority journal; protein expression; risk factor; ROS1 gene; smoking; cancer staging; carcinoma; cohort analysis; gene expression; genetics; immunotherapy; Lung Neoplasms; metabolism; metastasis; mortality; pathology; prognosis; very elderly; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antigens, CD274; Carcinoma; Cohort Studies; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Immunotherapy; Lung Neoplasms; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins B-raf; ras Proteins; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor
Publisher
Elsevier Ireland Ltd
Type
journal article