Evaluating programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: concordance between the 22C3 PharmDx assay and the SP263 assay on whole sections from a multicentre study

• DOI: 10.1111/his.14562
• Publication Date: 2021-09-08T20:32:14Z
• Authors: Bruna Cerbelli; Ilaria Girolami; Albino Eccher; Leopoldo Costarelli; Silvia Taccogna; Renzo Scialpi; Maria Benevolo; Teresa Lucante; Piero Luigi Alò; Francesca Stella; Maria Gemma Pigna...; Guido Fadda; Giuseppe Perrone; Giulia D’Amati; Maurizio Martini
• Keywords: Concordance

Aims The introduction of immunotherapy for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) raises the need harmonisation between different types antibody immunohistochemistry platform evaluating expression PD‐L1 by use combined positive score (CPS) in this tumour. aim study was to compare as determined CPS two widely used assays (the 22C3 PharmDx assay SP263 assay) a cohort HNSCCs. Methods results We analysed 43 whole sections HNSCC anti‐PD‐L1 antibodies, SP263. results, expressed CPS, were evaluated 10 trained pathologists statistical analyses performed. found very similar our cohort, strong significant correlation all specimens ( P < 0.0001). interobserver reliability among continuous scores intraclass coefficient both good. Moreover, rate agreement high at cut‐offs best most relevant cut‐off ≥ 1, kappa values always range almost perfect. Conclusions Two showed agreement. These data suggest that these are interchangeable selection immunotherapy.