Clin Surg | Volume 8, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access

PD-L1 (22C3) Expression and Molecular Features of Tubo-Ovarian Carcinomas

Chang J1#, Li P2#, Harada S1, Arend RC3, Diffalha SAL1, Kahn AG1, Mackinnon A1, Pesoli C1, Siegal GP1*,# and Huang X1*,#

1Department of Pathology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
2School of Nursing, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
3Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA
#These authors contributed equally to this work

^*Correspondance to: Gene P Siegal 

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Abstract

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been used to treat multiple cancers. Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Tumor Mutational Burden (TMB) are two of the biomarkers relied upon to select patients for immune therapy. Conventional therapy for tubo-ovarian carcinomas cause significant toxic side effect, therefore, it is necessary to investigate other avenues of treatment such as modulation of the immune environment for benefit as potential targets for these types of cancer. Methods: Of 138 patients diagnosed and treated for tubo-ovarian carcinoma between 2013 and 2021 were identified. We explored several strategies including stromal Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocyte (sTIL) density, PD-L1 IHC, TMB, and molecular profiling. Results: Our study showed sTIL density is positively associated with both PD-L1 positivity (P=0.0005) and TMB score (Rho=0.20, p=0.042). No significant association was identified between PD-L1 positivity and TMB score. PD-L1 positivity was found to be positively associated with PTEN mutation (p=0.0142). Conclusion: PD-L1 positivity and TMB score should best be considered as independent biomarkers for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibition in tubo-ovarian carcinoma. Clinical significance of positive association between PD-L1 expression and PTEN mutation needs further investigation.

Keywords:

Tubo-ovarian carcinoma; sTIL; PD-L1; TMB; PTEN

Citation:

Chang J, Li P, Harada S, Arend RC, Diffalha SAL, Kahn AG, Mackinnon A, et al. PD-L1 (22C3) Expression and Molecular Features of Tubo-Ovarian Carcinomas. Clin Surg. 2023; 8: 3629..