Tumor cell PD-L1 expression is a strong predictor of unfavorable prognosis in immune checkpoint therapy-naive clear cell renal cell cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

PD-L1 expression predicts response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in renal cell carcinomas (RCC), but has also been suggested to be linked to poor patient outcome.

Methods

We analyzed PD-L1 in > 1400 RCC in a tissue microarray format by immunohistochemistry. Results were compared with histological tumor type, parameters of cancer aggressiveness, and intratumoral CD8⁺ cytotoxic cells.

Result

At a cut-off level of 5% PD-L1 positive tumor cells, PD-L1 positivity was seen in 6.3% of 633 clear cell RCC (ccRCC), 18.2% of 165 papillary RCC, 18.8% of 64 chromophobe RCC, and 41.7% of 103 oncocytomas. In ccRCC, PD-L1 positivity was significantly linked to high ISUP (p < 0.0001), Fuhrman (p < 0.0001), Thoenes grade (p < 0.0001), distant metastasis (p = 0.0

SUBMITTER: Moller K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8599390 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature