Importance of the PD-1/PD-L1 Axis for Malignant Transformation and Risk Assessment of Oral Leukoplakia.

ABSTRACT: The programmed cell death ligand 1/programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-L1/PD-1) Immune Checkpoint is an important modulator of the immune response. Overexpression of the receptor and its ligands is involved in immunosuppression and the failure of an immune response against tumor cells. PD-1/PD-L1 overexpression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) compared to healthy oral mucosa (NOM) has already been demonstrated. However, little is known about its expression in oral precancerous lesions like oral leukoplakia (OLP). The aim of the study was to investigate whether an increased expression of PD-1/PD-L1 already exists in OLP and whether it is associated with malignant transformation. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression was immunohistologically analyzed separately in the epithelium (E) and the subep

SUBMITTER: Ries J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7920045 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature