Tumor cells PD-L1 expression as a favorable prognosis factor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients with pre-existing intratumor-infiltrating lymphocytes

Abstract

Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression represents a mechanism of immune escape by inhibiting T cell immunity. This study systematically evaluated the expression of PD-L1, spatial distribution of CD3 Moreover, type classification based on intratumoral CD3 infiltration and tumor cell PD-L1 expression was an independent prognostic factor for NPC patients. PD-L1 expression on tumor cells is a favorable prognosis factor in NPC patients with pre-existing intratumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

Prognostic stratification of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on tumor immune microenvironment

“…15,[20][21][22] Because our multivariate analyses showed that tumor infiltration by CD8-positive T cells but not CD3-positive T cells was a prognostic factor, we used the CD8-positive TIL density for this classification. 15,[20][21][22] Because our multivariate analyses showed that tumor infiltration by CD8-positive T cells but not CD3-positive T cells was a prognostic factor, we used the CD8-positive TIL density for this classification.…”

“…15,[20][21][22] Because our multivariate analyses showed that tumor infiltration by CD8-positive T cells but not CD3-positive T cells was a prognostic factor, we used the CD8-positive TIL density for this classification. 19,20,23,46 Furthermore, Vassilakopoulou et al 43 have reported that patients with T cell-rich tumors expressing PD-L1 were likely to have better immune surveillance. Several studies (eg, in lung cancer and gastric cancer) have shown that the PD-L1-negative/ CD8 high cohort had the most favorable prognosis.…”

“…Furthermore, PD-L1 expression on immune cells in stroma surrounding the tumor was classified as follows: <1%, 1%-4%, 5%-10%, and 10%, and the positivity was considered to be 5%. 19,20 In addition, TILs were counted and scored on CD3, CD4, and CD8 immunostained preparations using a 4-tier scale. The cutoff values for the numbers of CD3-positive, CD4-positive, and CD8-positive TILs were determined using receiver operating characteristic curves optimized for overall survival (OS).…”

“…23,24 Furthermore, the patients were also divided into 4 groups based on the combination of PD-L1 expression on immune cells in the stroma and CD8-positive TIL density as follows: immune cells-PD-L1-positive/ CD8 high ; immune cells-PD-L1-negative/CD8 low ; immune cells-PD-L1-positive/CD8 low ; and immune cells-PD-L1-negative/CD8 high . 20 Kaplan-Meier curves of PFS and OS for each of the 4 subgroups are shown in Figure 3. The median PFSs for the type I, II, III, and IV subgroups were not reached, 95.0, 13.2, and 21.4 months, respectively (P < .001).…”

Rediscovery of NF‐κB signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: How genetic defects of NF‐κB pathway interplay with EBV in driving oncogenesis?

“…It has been demonstrated that NF‐κB activation contribute to LMP‐1 mediated induction of PD‐L1 in NPC cells and natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma (Bi et al, ; Fang et al, ) (Figure ). However, the relationship between PD‐L1 expression and NPC clinical outcomes is remain controversial (Li, Ding, et al, ; Zhu et al, ). A latest clinical trial result revealed that Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) exert antitumor activity with a manageable safety in recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (RM‐NPC) patients with PD‐L1 expression (Hsu et al, ).…”