PD-L1 amplification is associated with an immune cell rich phenotype in squamous cell cancer of the lung

• DOI: 10.1007/s00262-020-02825-z
• Publication Date: 2021-02-12T11:04:00Z
• Authors: Torsten Goldmann; Sebastian Marwitz; Dörte Nitschkowski; Rosemarie Krupar; Max Backman; Hedvig Elfving; Viktoria Thurfjell; Amanda Lindberg; Hans Brunnström; Linnea La Fleur; Artur Mezheyeuski; Johanna Sofia Mar...; Johan Botling; Patrick Micke; Carina Strell
• Keywords: Tissue microarray

Gene amplification is considered to be one responsible cause for upregulation of Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and represent a specific molecular subgroup possibly associated with immunotherapy response. Our aim was analyze the frequency PD-L1 amplification, its relation mRNA protein expression, characterize immune microenvironment amplified cases. The study based on two independent NSCLC cohorts, including 354 349 cases, respectively. Tissue microarrays were used evaluate by FISH immunohistochemistry. Immune infiltrates characterized immunohistochemically panel markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, PD-1, Foxp3, CD20, CD138, CD168, CD45RO, NKp46). Mutational status determined targeted sequencing. RNAseq data available 197 patients. detected 4.5% all evaluable correlated only weakly expression. About 37% cases negative protein. did not show any association mutational status. In squamous cancer, enriched among patients high tumoral infiltration showed gene expression profiles related exhaustion. conclusion, correlates an rich tumor phenotype. correlative findings help understand role as important escape mechanism suggest need further predictive biomarker checkpoint inhibitor therapy.