Open AccessExpression of PD‐L1 in medullary thyroid carcinoma—a new therapeutic target?
Author(s) -
Fonseca Liliana,
Freitas Cláudia,
Caramelo Ana,
Eloy Catarina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2398-9238
DOI - 10.1002/edm2.241
Subject(s) - pembrolizumab , immunotherapy , pd l1 , medicine , cancer research , oncology , medullary carcinoma , thyroid carcinoma , cancer immunotherapy , carcinoma , cancer , thyroid
PD‐L1 expression in MTC is hot topic since, if it is demonstrated that PD‐L1 is highly expressed in this cancer, thus immunotherapy against checkpoint inhibitors could become an important therapeutic tool in MTC treatment. To answer this question, we evaluated PD‐L1 expression in MCT tumour tissues, using an anti‐PD‐L1 22C3 antibody and found a high expression in 6 of the 8 patients (75%). Similarly, two other recent studies reported a higher PD‐L1 expression. According to our results, MTC cells present a significative PD‐L1 expression, raising the hypothesis that immunotherapy, such as pembrolizumab, could have a role on MCT treatment. The authors believe this is a fundamental question and may impact the future of MTC treatment.