Detection of programmed cell death-ligand 1 using 22C3 antibody in patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a biomarker for administering immune check point inhibitors in patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer. Although the consolidation therapy of durvalumab after definitive chemoradiotherapy has become the new standard of care for patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer, the prevalence and prognostic role of PD-L1 expression in this population remain unclear.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer who received definitive chemoradiotherapy at our institution between 2012 and 2017. Levels of PD-L1 were assessed using 22C3 antibody, and associations of progression-free and overall survival rates with PD-L1 statuses at a tumor proportion score cutoff of 1% were analyzed.

RESULTS:

Among the 104 patients enrolled, PD-L1 statuses were as follows: tumor proportion score < 1%, 73 (70.2%); 1-49%, 21 (20.2%); and ≥ 50%, 10 (9.6%). The number of patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer with pretreatment PD-L1 tumor proportion score ≥ 1% was less than the number with advanced stage disease. There was no association between patient characteristics and PD-L1 status, and no significant differences were observed in progression-free and overall survival rates relative to PD-L1 status.

CONCLUSION:

Expression of PD-L1 in patients with stage III non-small cell cancer before chemoradiotherapy should be assessed because of the low prevalence of tumors with tumor proportion scores ≥ 1%. Further studies are needed to clarify whether durvalumab improves survival after definitive chemoradiotherapy, irrespective of tumor PD-L1 expression.

• Authors: Nobuaki Mamesaya, Koji Muramatsu, Michitoshi Yabe, Hiroaki Kodama, Naoya Nishioka, Taichi Miyawaki, Eriko Miyawaki, Haruki Kobayashi, Shota Omori, Kazushige Wakuda, Akira Ono, Hirotsugu Kenmotsu, Tateaki Naito, Haruyasu Murakami, Hideyuki Harada, Takashi Sugino, Tetsuo Shimizu, Yasuhiro Gon, Toshiaki Takahashi
• Journal: International journal of clinical oncology (Int J Clin Oncol) Vol. 26 Issue 4 Pg. 659-669 (Apr 2021) ISSN: 1437-7772 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 33415571 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• B7-H1 Antigen
• Biomarkers, Tumor
• CD274 protein, human
• Ligands

Topics

• Apoptosis
• B7-H1 Antigen (analysis)
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung (drug therapy, radiotherapy)
• Chemoradiotherapy
• Humans
• Ligands
• Lung Neoplasms (drug therapy)
• Retrospective Studies