Julia Chang1, Gefei A Zhu1, Christine Cheung1, Shufeng Li1, Jinah Kim2, Anne Lynn S Chang1. 1. Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Redwood City, California. 2. Department of Dermatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Redwood City, California2Dermatopathology Service, Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Redwood City, California.
Abstract
Importance: Response to programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors has been associated with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression levels in several cancers, but PD-L1 expression and its clinical significance in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are unknown to date. Objective: To assess PD-L1 expression in treatment-naive and treated BCCs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This investigation was a cross-sectional study at a single academic tertiary referral center. Immunohistochemical staining on formalin-fixed BCCs from a dermatology clinic were examined in masked fashion by a dermatopathologist and a dermatologist. The study dates were March 31, 2014, to June 7, 2016. Exposures: Treated BCCs (including those recurrent after surgery, radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, or topical chemotherapy) vs treatment-naive BCCs. Main Outcomes and Measures: Percentage of tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with PD-L1 expression, intensities of expression, and association with treatment modalities. Results: Among 138 BCCs from 62 patients (43 males and 19 females; mean [SD] age at biopsy, 61.6 [13.7] years), 89.9% (124 of 138) were positive for PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, and 94.9% (131 of 138) were positive for PD-L1 expression in TILs, defined as greater than 5% positive immunohistochemical staining in the respective cell populations. The PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining intensity of 78 treated BCCs compared with 60 treatment-naive BCCs was significantly different in tumor cells (32% vs 7%, P = .003) and TILs (47% vs 18%, P = .008) after adjusting for the age at diagnosis. In a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, and BCC location, PD-L1 staining intensity in tumor cells increased with the number of distinct prior treatment modalities (median, 0.12; interquartile range, 0.03-0.20; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance: Our data suggest that PD-1 immunotherapy may have activity against BCCs, including in those that have been previously treated. This hypothesis needs to be tested in future clinical trials.
Importance: Response to programmed death 1 (PD-1) inhibitors has been associated with programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression levels in several cancers, but PD-L1 expression and its clinical significance in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are unknown to date. Objective: To assess PD-L1 expression in treatment-naive and treated BCCs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This investigation was a cross-sectional study at a single academic tertiary referral center. Immunohistochemical staining on formalin-fixed BCCs from a dermatology clinic were examined in masked fashion by a dermatopathologist and a dermatologist. The study dates were March 31, 2014, to June 7, 2016. Exposures: Treated BCCs (including those recurrent after surgery, radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, or topical chemotherapy) vs treatment-naive BCCs. Main Outcomes and Measures: Percentage of tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) with PD-L1 expression, intensities of expression, and association with treatment modalities. Results: Among 138 BCCs from 62 patients (43 males and 19 females; mean [SD] age at biopsy, 61.6 [13.7] years), 89.9% (124 of 138) were positive for PD-L1 expression in tumor cells, and 94.9% (131 of 138) were positive for PD-L1 expression in TILs, defined as greater than 5% positive immunohistochemical staining in the respective cell populations. The PD-L1 immunohistochemical staining intensity of 78 treated BCCs compared with 60 treatment-naive BCCs was significantly different in tumor cells (32% vs 7%, P = .003) and TILs (47% vs 18%, P = .008) after adjusting for the age at diagnosis. In a multivariable model adjusting for age, sex, and BCC location, PD-L1 staining intensity in tumor cells increased with the number of distinct prior treatment modalities (median, 0.12; interquartile range, 0.03-0.20; P = .007). Conclusions and Relevance: Our data suggest that PD-1 immunotherapy may have activity against BCCs, including in those that have been previously treated. This hypothesis needs to be tested in future clinical trials.
Authors: Katherine Given Ligtenberg; Jamie Katy Hu; William Damsky; Kelly Olino; Harriet Kluger; James Clune; Shawn E Cowper; Gauri Panse; Jonathan Leventhal; Sarah A Weiss Journal: JAAD Case Rep Date: 2020-05-17
Authors: Connor J Stonesifer; A Reza Djavid; Joseph M Grimes; Alexandra E Khaleel; Yssra S Soliman; Amanda Maisel-Campbell; Tiffany J Garcia-Saleem; Larisa J Geskin; Richard D Carvajal Journal: Front Oncol Date: 2021-12-20 Impact factor: 6.244
Authors: Aaron M Goodman; Shumei Kato; Philip R Cohen; Amélie Boichard; Garrett Frampton; Vincent Miller; Philip J Stephens; Gregory A Daniels; Razelle Kurzrock Journal: Oncoimmunology Date: 2017-12-22 Impact factor: 8.110