PD-L1: a novel prognostic biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The PD-1 receptor and its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 are known to be significantly involved in T-cell regulation. Recent studies suggest that PD-L1 expression in malignant tumors contributes to an immunosuppressive microenvironment and disruption of antitumoral immune response. Drugs targeting this pathway are already tested in clinical trials against several tumor entities with promising results. However, until now comprehensive data with regard to PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is still lacking.

Patients and methods

We assessed PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression via immunohistochemistry in two independent cohorts of 293 HNSCC patients.

Results

A significant subset of HNSCC showed high expression levels of PD-L1. Most rema

SUBMITTER: Muller T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581079 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature