Analysis of PD-1/PD-L1 variations in lung cancer and association with immunotherapeutic efficacy and prognosis: A nonrandomized controlled trial

Abstract

Introduction

This study aims to explore Programmed Death Receptor-1 (PD-1) and Programmed Death Ligand-1 (PD-L1) variations in Lung Cancer (LC) tissues and Peripheral Blood (PPB) and their association with immunotherapy efficacy and prognosis.

Method

72 patients with LC were included in the LC group and 39 patients with concurrent benign lung disease were included in the benign group. PD-1/PDL-1 was compared in PPB and lung tissue. All LC patients were treated with immunotherapy. The relationship between PD-1/PDL-1 in LC tissue and PPB and immunotherapy efficacy was analyzed. Patients were divided into death and survival groups, and PD-1/PDL-1 in tumor tissues and PPB were compared.

Results

The authors found that PD-1 and PDL-1 positive expression in lung tissue and PPB in LC patients was elevated. Combined detection of PD-1 and PDL-1 was effective in diagnosing LC and evaluating the prognosis of LC patients. PD-1 and PDL-1 positive expression was reduced after disease remission while elevated in dead patients. The 3-year survival rate of patients with PD-1 positive expression was 45.45 % (25/55), which was lower (82.35 %, 14/17) than those with PD-1 negative expression. The 3-year survival rate of patients with positive and negative expression of PDL-1 was 48.78 % (20/41) and 61.29 % (19/31), respectively.

Discussion

The present results demonstrated that PD-1 and PDL-1 are abnormal in cancer tissue and PPB of LC patients. The combined detection of PD-1 and PDL-1 has diagnostic value for LC and evaluation value for the efficacy and prognosis of immunotherapy.

Keywords
Lung cancer; Programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1); Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-l1); Efficacy; Prognosis; Diagnosis

Highlights

• PD-1/PDL-1′s comparison in cancer tissues and PPB of the remission with the non-remission.

• Analysis of PD-1/PDL-1′s predictive value in cancer tissue and PPB on immunotherapy's efficacy.

• Comparison of patients’ 3-year survival rate with PD-1/PDL-1 in diverse cancer tissues.