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Upregulation of PD‐L1 and PD‐L2 in neck node metastases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Author(s) -
Moratin Julius,
Metzger Karl,
Safaltin Ayse,
Herpel Esther,
Hoffmann Jürgen,
Freier Kolja,
Hess Jochen,
Horn Dominik
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.25713
Subject(s) - medicine , tissue microarray , immunohistochemistry , downregulation and upregulation , head and neck squamous cell carcinoma , pd l1 , head and neck cancer , oncology , lymph node , basal cell , primary tumor , stage (stratigraphy) , cancer , head and neck , cell , pathology , metastasis , immunotherapy , gene , surgery , biology , paleontology , biochemistry , genetics
Background This study aimed on evaluating the expression levels of the immune checkpoint proteins, PD‐L1 and PD‐L2, in tissue specimens of 175 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and 33 corresponding lymph node metastases (LNM). Methods Tissue microarrays of primary OSCC and matched LNM were investigated via immunohistochemistry regarding PD‐L1/PD‐L2 expression. Results were compared for primary tumors and corresponding metastases and correlated with clinicopathological data. Results PD‐L1 expression in cancer cells correlated significantly with tumor size, and the presence of regional metastases ( P < 0.01). PD‐L1 expression was significantly higher in metastases as compared to primary OSCC ( P < 0.05). Overall survival was significantly worse in patients with higher levels of PD‐L1 and PD‐L2 score ( P < 0.05). Conclusions This is the first publication to compare PD‐L1 and PD‐L2 expression in primary OSCC and matched LNM. The results indicate that anti‐PD‐1 therapy may be of therapeutic use even in early stage OSCC to prevent further progression.