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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

Published in:

01-07-2019 | Colorectal Cancer | Original Article – Cancer Research

PD-L1 is a double-edged sword in colorectal cancer: the prognostic value of PD-L1 depends on the cell type expressing PD-L1

Authors: Hsiang-Ling Ho, Teh-Ying Chou, Shung-Haur Yang, Jeng-Kai Jiang, Wei-Shone Chen, Yee Chao, Hao-Wei Teng

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 7/2019

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the associations between programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on tumor cells (TCs) or PD-L1 on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) and the microsatellite instability (MSI) status in colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methods

In total, 238 CRC patients were enrolled. PD-L1 expression and MSI status were studied by immunohistochemical staining and polymerase chain reaction. The χ² test was used to compare characteristics. The Kaplan–Meier method was used for survival analysis. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the prognostic influence of clinicopathological factors.

Results

Eighteen patients (7.6%) were had MSI-high (MSI-H) CRC. The number of patients with PD-L1 expression on TCs, stromal TIICs and intraepithelial TIICs was 13 (5.5%), 64 (26.9%) and 45 (18.9%), respectively. The MSI-H phenotype was significantly associated with younger age, right sidedness, mucinous component, high grade, stromal TIICs expressing PD-L1 (P = 0.042) and intraepithelial TIICs expressing PD-L1 (P < 0.001), but not TCs expressing PD-L1. PD-L1-expressing TCs were an independent marker of poor prognosis [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.387, P = 0.003], and PD-L1-expressing stromal TIICs were an independent marker of good prognosis (HR = 0.551, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

PD-L1-expressing TCs were a marker of poor prognosis; in contrast, PD-L1-expressing TIICs were a marker of good prognosis. The MSI-H phenotype was associated with the presence of PD-L1-expressing TIICs, but not of PD-L1-expressing TCs.

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Title: PD-L1 is a double-edged sword in colorectal cancer: the prognostic value of PD-L1 depends on the cell type expressing PD-L1
Authors: Hsiang-Ling Ho
Teh-Ying Chou
Shung-Haur Yang
Jeng-Kai Jiang
Wei-Shone Chen
Yee Chao
Hao-Wei Teng
Publication date: 01-07-2019
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-019-02942-y

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