[pubmed] Prognostic relevance of programmed cell death protein 1/programmed death-ligand 1 pathway in thymic malignancie

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Berardi R, et al. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to investigate Programmed cell Death protein 1 (PD-1) and Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) and their mRNA expression in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We analyzed 68 samples of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tissue (63 thymomas and 5 thymic carcinomas). PD-1 and PD-L1 protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and mRNA expression was evaluated by Real Time-PCR.

RESULTS: M/F ratio was 33/35, and median age was 60.5 years. 20 patients had Myasthenia Gravis (MG). In the subgroup with large tumors (>5 cm), PD-L1 mRNA overexpression was significantly associated with worse prognosis vs. patients with no mRNA overexpression (p =0.0083) and simultaneous PD-L1 immunostaining (>1%); PD-L1 mRNA overexpression was significantly associated with worse prognosis, respect to patient with PD-L1 negative immunostaining and no PD-L1 mRNA overexpression (p = 0.0178). The elderly patients (> 60 years) with large tumors showed worse prognosis (p = 0.0395). PD-L1 immunostaining (>50%) resulted significantly associated with MG.

CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest the potential involvement of the PD-1 and PD-L1 pathway in TETs progression. According to our results, it may be helpful to design future trials with anti-PD-1 drugs to establish high-risk patients after surgery.

PMID:32662701 | DOI:10.1080/14728222.2020.1790529


Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3266270 ... 5&v=2.10.1