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Harris MA, Savas P, Virassamy B, O'Malley MMR, Kay J, Mueller SN, Mackay LK, Salgado R, Loi S. Towards targeting the breast cancer immune microenvironment. Nat Rev Cancer 2024; 24:554-577. [PMID: 38969810 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-024-00714-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The tumour immune microenvironment is shaped by the crosstalk between cancer cells, immune cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells and other stromal components. Although the immune tumour microenvironment (TME) serves as a source of therapeutic targets, it is also considered a friend or foe to tumour-directed therapies. This is readily illustrated by the importance of T cells in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), culminating in the advent of immune checkpoint therapy in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy as standard of care for both early and advanced-stage TNBC, as well as recent promising signs of efficacy in a subset of hormone receptor-positive disease. In this Review, we discuss the various components of the immune TME in breast cancer and therapies that target or impact the immune TME, as well as the complexity of host physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Harris
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Savas
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Balaji Virassamy
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Megan M R O'Malley
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jasmine Kay
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Scott N Mueller
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura K Mackay
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Pathology, ZAS Ziekenhuizen, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sherene Loi
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Hempenius MA, Eenkhoorn MA, Høeg H, Dabbs DJ, van der Vegt B, Sompuram SR, 't Hart NA. Quantitative comparison of immunohistochemical HER2-low detection in an interlaboratory study. Histopathology 2024. [PMID: 39075657 DOI: 10.1111/his.15273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Recently, human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2)-low (i.e. HER2 score 1+ or 2+ without amplification) breast cancer patients became eligible for trastuzumab-deruxtecan treatment. To improve assay standardisation and detection of HER2-low in a quantitative manner, we conducted an external quality assessment-like study in the Netherlands. Dynamic range cell lines and immunohistochemistry (IHC) calibrators were used to quantify HER2 expression and to assess interlaboratory variability. METHODS AND RESULTS Three blank slides with a dynamic range cell line and an IHC calibrator were stained with routine HER2 assays by 35 laboratories. Four different antibody clones were used: 19 (54.3%) 4B5, six (17.1%) A0485, five (14.3%) DG44 (HercepTest) and five (14.3%) SP3. Laboratories used two different detection kits for 4B5 assays: 14 (73.7%) ultraView and five (26.3%) OptiView. Variability of HER2 expression in cell lines, measured with artificial intelligence software, was median (min-max) = negative core 0.5% (0.0-57.0), 1+ core 4.3% (1.6-71.3), 2+ core 42.8% (30.4-92.6) and 3+ core 96.2% (91.8-98.8). The calibrators DG44 and 4B5 OptiView had the highest analytical sensitivity, closely followed by 4B5 ultraView. SP3 was the least sensitive. Calibrators of A0485 assays were not analysable due to background staining. CONCLUSIONS As assays were validated for detecting HER2-amplified tumours, not all assays and antibodies proved suitable for HER2-low detection. Some tests showed distinct expression in the negative cell line. Dynamic range cell line controls and quantitative analysis using calibrators demonstrated more interlaboratory variability than commonly appreciated. Revalidation of HER2 tests by laboratories is needed to ensure clinical applicable HER2-low assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Anna Hempenius
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Bert van der Vegt
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Nils A 't Hart
- Department of Pathology, Isala Klinieken, Zwolle, the Netherlands
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Yamaguchi H, Hsu JM, Sun L, Wang SC, Hung MC. Advances and prospects of biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors. Cell Rep Med 2024; 5:101621. [PMID: 38906149 PMCID: PMC11293349 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2024.101621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) activate anti-cancer immunity by blocking T cell checkpoint molecules such as programmed death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4). Although ICIs induce some durable responses in various cancer patients, they also have disadvantages, including low response rates, the potential for severe side effects, and high treatment costs. Therefore, selection of patients who can benefit from ICI treatment is critical, and identification of biomarkers is essential to improve the efficiency of ICIs. In this review, we provide updated information on established predictive biomarkers (tumor programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-L1] expression, DNA mismatch repair deficiency, microsatellite instability high, and tumor mutational burden) and potential biomarkers currently under investigation such as tumor-infiltrated and peripheral lymphocytes, gut microbiome, and signaling pathways related to DNA damage and antigen presentation. In particular, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge of biomarkers, discuss issues, and further explore future biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hirohito Yamaguchi
- Graduate Institute of Cell Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan; Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center and Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Mao Hsu
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan; Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center and Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan
| | - Linlin Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, P.R. China
| | - Shao-Chun Wang
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan; Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center and Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan; Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan
| | - Mien-Chie Hung
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 406040, Taiwan; Cancer Biology and Precision Therapeutics Center and Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan; Center for Molecular Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40402, Taiwan.
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4
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Hempenius MA, Koomen BM, Deckers IAG, Oosting SF, Willems SM, van der Vegt B. Considerable interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in the Netherlands- A nationwide evaluation study. Histopathology 2024; 85:133-142. [PMID: 38606992 DOI: 10.1111/his.15184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Patients with recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are eligible for first-line immune checkpoint inhibition if their tumour is positive for programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) determined by the combined positive score (CPS). This nationwide study, using real-world data, investigated the developing PD-L1 testing landscape in the first 3 years after introduction of the test in HNSCC and examined interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity rates. METHODS Pathology reports of HNSCC patients mentioning PD-L1 were extracted from the Dutch Pathology Registry (Palga). Tumour and PD-L1 testing characteristics were analysed per year and interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity rates was assessed using funnel plots with 95% confidence limits around the overall mean. RESULTS A total of 817 PD-L1 tests were reported in 702 patients among 19 laboratories; 85.2% of the tests on histological material were stated to be positive. The national PD-L1 positivity rate differed significantly per year during the study period (79.7-89.9%). The use of the recommended 22C3 antibody increased from 59.9 to 74.3%. A total of 673 PD-L1 tests on histological material from 12 laboratories were analysed to investigate interlaboratory variation. Four (33%) deviated significantly from the national mean of PD-L1-positive cases using CPS ≥ 1 cut-off, while two (17%) deviated significantly for CPS ≥ 20 cut-off. CONCLUSION In the first 3 years of PD-L1 assessment in HNSCC, the testing landscape became more uniform. However, interlaboratory variation in PD-L1 positivity rates between Dutch laboratories was substantial. This implies that there is a need for further test standardisation to reduce this variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maaike Anna Hempenius
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bregje M Koomen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Sjoukje F Oosting
- Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan M Willems
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert van der Vegt
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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5
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Rayson VC, Harris MA, Savas P, Hun ML, Virassamy B, Salgado R, Loi S. The anti-cancer immune response in breast cancer: current and emerging biomarkers and treatments. Trends Cancer 2024; 10:490-506. [PMID: 38521654 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2024.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) exhibit heightened T cell infiltration, contributing to an enhanced response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) compared with other subtypes. An immune-rich immune microenvironment correlates with improved prognosis in early and advanced TNBC. Combination chemotherapy and ICB is now the standard of care in early- and late-stage TNBC. Although programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) positivity predicts ICB response in advanced stages, its role in early-stage disease remains uncertain. Despite neoadjuvant ICB becoming common in early-stage TNBC, the necessity of adjuvant ICB after surgery remains unclear. Understanding the molecular basis of the immune response in breast cancer is vital for precise biomarkers for ICB and effective combination therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C Rayson
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael A Harris
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Peter Savas
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Michael L Hun
- The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Balaji Virassamy
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Roberto Salgado
- Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Pathology, GZA-ZNA Hospitals, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Sherene Loi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; The Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Medical Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Division of Cancer Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
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Odegard JM, Othman AA, Lin KW, Wang AY, Nazareno J, Yoon OK, Ling J, Lad L, Dunbar PR, Thai D, Ang E, Waldron N, Deva S. Oral PD-L1 inhibitor GS-4224 selectively engages PD-L1 high cells and elicits pharmacodynamic responses in patients with advanced solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008547. [PMID: 38604815 PMCID: PMC11015256 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway are effective therapies in a range of immunogenic cancer types. Blocking this pathway with an oral therapy could benefit patients through greater convenience, particularly in combination regimens, and allow flexible management of immune-mediated toxicities. METHODS PD-L1 binding activity was assessed in engineered dimerization and primary cell target occupancy assays. Preclinical antitumor activity was evaluated in ex vivo and in vivo human PD-L1-expressing tumor models. Human safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and biomarker activity were evaluated in an open-label, multicenter, sequential dose-escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors. Biomarkers evaluated included target occupancy, flow cytometric immunophenotyping, plasma cytokine measurements, and T-cell receptor sequencing. RESULTS GS-4224 binding caused dimerization of PD-L1, blocking its interaction with PD-1 and leading to reversal of T-cell inhibition and increased tumor killing in vitro and in vivo. The potency of GS-4224 was dependent on the density of cell surface PD-L1, with binding being most potent on PD-L1-high cells. In a phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with advanced solid tumors, treatment was well tolerated at doses of 400-1,500 mg once daily. Administration of GS-4224 was associated with a dose-dependent increase in plasma GS-4224 exposure and reduction in free PD-L1 on peripheral blood T cells, an increase in Ki67 among the PD-1-positive T-cell subsets, and elevated plasma cytokines and chemokines. CONCLUSIONS GS-4224 is a novel, orally bioavailable small molecule inhibitor of PD-L1. GS-4224 showed evidence of expected on-target biomarker activity, including engagement of PD-L1 and induction of immune-related pharmacodynamic responses consistent with PD-L1 blockade. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04049617.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared M Odegard
- Biomarker Sciences, Gilead Sciences Inc, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ahmed A Othman
- Clinical Pharmacology, Gilead Sciences Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Kai-Wen Lin
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Adele Y Wang
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Oh Kyu Yoon
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - John Ling
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Latesh Lad
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - P Rod Dunbar
- School of Biological Sciences and Maurice Wilkins Centre, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Dung Thai
- Gilead Sciences, Inc, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Edmond Ang
- University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
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Brito MJ, Sequeira P, Quintas A, Silva I, Silva F, Martins C, Félix A. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical squamous cell carcinoma of HIV-infected and non-infected patients. Virchows Arch 2024; 484:507-516. [PMID: 37341812 PMCID: PMC11021248 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03580-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is overexpressed in cervical carcinoma, hindering tumor destruction. The aim of this study was to assess PD-L1 expression by immunohistochemistry in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) from human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) and human immunodeficiency virus-negative (HIV-) patients. A total of 166 SCC and SIL samples of HIV+ and HIV- patients were included and analyzed for PD-L1 expression through tumor proportion score (TPS), and results were stratified in five TPS groups using SP263 antibody and, combined positive score (CPS) using 22C3 antibody. In cohort 1 (SP263 clone), all HIV+ patients were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (NILM), and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs) scored < 1; and 87.5% of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs) adjacent to SCC, 19% of HSILs non-adjacent to SCC, and 69% of SCCs scored ≥ 1 (15.4% scored 5). In HIV- patients, all NILM, LSILs, HSILs adjacent to SCC, and two HSILs non-adjacent to SCC scored < 1. SCC: 88.2% scored ≥ 1 and 5.9% scored 5. In cohort 2 (SP263 and 22C3 clones), 16.7% of HIV+ patients with SCC were positive with both clones, CPS ≥ 1 (22C3) or score 5 (≥ 50%) (SP263), showing no significant differences in positivity between both clones. These results indicate that a relatively low percentage of SCCs (16.7%; both in HIV+ and in HIV- patients) express PD-L1 (TPS ≥ 50% and CPS > 1), which may be due to some samples being archival material, sample characteristics, or use of different methodologies, highlighting the need for standardization of PD-L1 assessment in SCC of the cervix. The fact that PD-L1 is overexpressed in SILs of HIV+ patients suggests potential additional applications for immunotherapy in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria José Brito
- Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada, Portugal.
- Pathology, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal.
- Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa Francisco Gentil (IPOLFG), Lisbon, Portugal.
| | | | | | | | - Fernanda Silva
- NOVA Medical Research, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Catarina Martins
- NOVA Medical Research, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- CHRC, Comprehensive Health Research Center, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ana Félix
- Pathology, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Champalimaud Foundation, Avenida Brasília, 1400-038, Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA Medical Research, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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Mutka M, Joensuu K, Heiskala M, Eray M, Heikkilä P. Core needle biopsies alter the amounts of CCR5, Siglec-15, and PD-L1 positivities in breast carcinoma. Virchows Arch 2023; 483:215-224. [PMID: 37222841 PMCID: PMC10412655 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-023-03563-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Core needle biopsies (CNB) are widely used to diagnose breast cancer, but the procedure is invasive and thus, it changes the tumor microenvironment. The purpose of this study is to see how the expression of three potentially anti-inflammatory molecules, namely, programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-15 (Siglec-15), and C-C chemokine receptor-5 (CCR-5), are expressed in CNB and surgical resection specimens (SRS). To do this, we compared the amounts of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and the levels of CCR5, Siglec-15, and PD-L1 in tumor cells and inflammatory cells as assessed by immunohistochemistry in CNB and the corresponding SRS of 22 invasive breast carcinomas of no special type and 22 invasive lobular carcinomas. The Siglec-15 H-score was higher in tumor cells in the SRS than in the CNB groups. There was no change in tumor cells CCR5 or PD-L1 between CNB and SRS. The positive inflammatory cell numbers for all markers rose between CNB and SRS, as did the amount of Tils. Furthermore, higher grade tumors and tumors with a high proliferation rate had more inflammatory cells that were positive for the markers and also more PD-L1+ tumor cells. Although changes in inflammatory cells can partly be attributed to the larger sample size of operation specimens, the differences also mirror a true change in the tumor microenvironment. The changes in inflammatory cells could be partly due to the need to restrict excess inflammation at the site of the biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minna Mutka
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, FIN-00290, Helsinki, Finland.
| | | | | | - Mine Eray
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, FIN-00290, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Heikkilä
- Department of Pathology, HUSLAB, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, FIN-00290, Helsinki, Finland
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Fernandez AI, Gaule P, Rimm DL. Tissue Age Affects Antigenicity and Scoring for the 22C3 Immunohistochemistry Companion Diagnostic Test. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100159. [PMID: 36925070 PMCID: PMC10502188 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody 22C3 is the approved companion diagnostic immunohistochemistry test for treatment with pembrolizumab and cemiplimab in multiple cancer types. The 22C3 and 28-8 antibodies target the extracellular domain (ECD) of PD-L1, which is known to contain N-glycosylation sites. We hypothesize that antigenicity could be affected by the degradation of the glycan part of the epitope and thus change the scoring of the assay over time. Here, we test samples over time and assess the effects of time and deglycosylation on PD-L1 signal by comparing an antibody with an ECD antigen to an antibody with an intracellular domain (ICD) antigen. Ten whole-tissue sections of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from 2018 were selected for testing. Fresh-cut serial sections for each case were stained on DAKO Link48 for 22C3 according to the label. In parallel, a previously described laboratory-developed test using E1L3N (an ICD antibody) was performed on the Leica BondRX. Tumor proportion scores for 22C3 and E1L3N were read by a pathologist and compared to the previous clinical diagnoses. To determine the effect using a quantitative approach, a tissue microarray (TMA) cohort with 90 NSCLC cases was similarly assessed. Finally, to determine whether the possible effect of epitope glycosylation, antibodies were tested before and after enzymatic deglycosylation of specimens. We found that 6 of 7 archival positive samples showed a significant reduction in positive staining with 22C3 compared to the original diagnostic sample assessed 3 years earlier. In an older archival TMA cohort, a quantitative significant difference in signal intensity was noted when staining with 22C3 was compared to E1L3N. This loss of signal was not noted in the fresh cell line TMA consistent with a time-dependent degradation of staining. Finally, quantitative assessment of the fresh TMA showed a significant loss of signal after a deglycosylation procedure when stained with 22C3, which was not seen when stained with E1L3N. We believe that these data show that the glycan part of the 22C3 epitope is not stable over time, and that this issue should be considered when assessing archival tissue for diagnostic or research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen I Fernandez
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Patricia Gaule
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - David L Rimm
- Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut; Department of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
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10
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Stenmark Tullberg A, Sjöström M, Tran L, Niméus E, Killander F, Kovács A, Lundstedt D, Holmberg E, Karlsson P. Combining histological grade, TILs, and the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway to identify immunogenic tumors and de-escalate radiotherapy in early breast cancer: a secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. J Immunother Cancer 2023; 11:e006618. [PMID: 37208129 PMCID: PMC10201214 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2022-006618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The implementation of immunological biomarkers for radiotherapy (RT) individualization in breast cancer requires consideration of tumor-intrinsic factors. This study aimed to investigate whether the integration of histological grade, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1), and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) can identify tumors with aggressive characteristics that can be downgraded regarding the need for RT. METHODS The SweBCG91RT trial included 1178 patients with stage I-IIA breast cancer, randomized to breast-conserving surgery with or without adjuvant RT, and followed for a median time of 15.2 years. Immunohistochemical analyses of TILs, PD-1, and PD-L1 were performed. An activated immune response was defined as stromal TILs ≥10% and PD-1 and/or PD-L1 expression in ≥1% of lymphocytes. Tumors were categorized as high-risk or low-risk using assessments of histological grade and proliferation as measured by gene expression. The risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) and benefit of RT were then analyzed with 10 years follow-up based on the integration of immune activation and tumor-intrinsic risk group. RESULTS Among high-risk tumors, an activated immune infiltrate was associated with a reduced risk of IBTR (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.16 to 0.73, p=0.006). The incidence of IBTR in this group was 12.1% (5.6-25.0) without RT and 4.4% (1.1-16.3) with RT. In contrast, the incidence of IBTR in the high-risk group without an activated immune infiltrate was 29.6% (21.4-40.2) without RT and 12.8% (6.6-23.9) with RT. Among low-risk tumors, no evidence of a favorable prognostic effect of an activated immune infiltrate was seen (HR 2.0, 95% CI 0.87 to 4.6, p=0.100). CONCLUSIONS Integrating histological grade and immunological biomarkers can identify tumors with aggressive characteristics but a low risk of IBTR despite a lack of RT boost and systemic therapy. Among high-risk tumors, the risk reduction of IBTR conferred by an activated immune infiltrate is comparable to treatment with RT. These findings may apply to cohorts dominated by estrogen receptor-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Stenmark Tullberg
- Department of Oncology, University of Gothenburg Institute of Clinical Sciences, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Martin Sjöström
- Department of Radiation Oncology, UCSF, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology/Pathology and Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lena Tran
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology/Pathology and Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Emma Niméus
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology/Pathology and Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Surgery, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Fredrika Killander
- Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Oncology/Pathology and Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Oncology, Skåne University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anikó Kovács
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dan Lundstedt
- Department of Oncology, University of Gothenburg Institute of Clinical Sciences, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Erik Holmberg
- Department of Oncology, University of Gothenburg Institute of Clinical Sciences, Goteborg, Sweden
| | - Per Karlsson
- Department of Oncology, University of Gothenburg Institute of Clinical Sciences, Goteborg, Sweden
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11
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Yang T, Li W, Huang T, Zhou J. Immunotherapy Targeting PD-1/PD-L1 in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13030526. [PMID: 36983708 PMCID: PMC10055616 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13030526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The advent of immunotherapy, especially immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has revolutionized antitumor therapy. Programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) are among the most promising targets for encouraging the immune system to eliminate cancer cells. PD-1/PD-L1 have made clinical remission for numerous solid tumors, including metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In recent years, integrating PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors into existing treatments in early-stage TNBC has attracted wide attention. Herein, we summarize the clinical benefit of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and targeted therapy in early-stage TNBC. Possible immunotherapy biomarkers, immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and the key challenges faced in TNBC anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy are also concluded. Numerous studies on immunotherapy are ongoing, and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors have demonstrated great clinical prospects in early-stage TNBC. To maximize the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy, further research into the challenges which still exist is necessary.
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12
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Sompuram SR, Vani K, Ryan L, Johnson C, Szabolcs M, Peruyero L, Balaton A, Pierrot S, Joseph L, Pilichowska M, Naber S, Goldsmith J, Green S, Bogen SA. Validation of Linear Range HER2/Estrogen Receptor/Progesterone Receptor IHControls for Daily Quality Assurance. Am J Clin Pathol 2023; 159:274-282. [PMID: 36779320 PMCID: PMC10010069 DOI: 10.1093/ajcp/aqac163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To evaluate a new US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared immunohistochemistry (IHC) control (IHControls [Boston Cell Standards]) comprising peptide epitopes for HER2, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) attached to cell-sized microspheres and to compare its performance against conventional tissue controls. METHODS IHControls and tissue/cell line controls for HER2, ER, and PR were compared side by side daily at 5 clinical IHC laboratories for 1 to 2 months. Separately, the sensitivity of the 2 types of controls was evaluated in simulated IHC assay failure experiments by diluting the primary antibody. Additional evaluations included lot-to-lot manufacturing reproducibility of 3 independent lots and specificity against 26 antigenically irrelevant IHC stains. RESULTS Side-by-side testing revealed a 99.6% concordance between IHControls and tissue controls across 5 IHC laboratories and 766 individual evaluations. Three discordant quality control events were the result of operator error. Simulated assay failure data showed that both IHControls and tissue controls are similarly capable of detecting IHC staining errors. Manufacturing reproducibility of IHControls showed less than 10% variability (coefficient of variation). No cross-reactions were detected from 26 antigenically irrelevant IHC stains. CONCLUSIONS IHControls, the first FDA-cleared IHC controls, can sensitively and accurately detect IHC assay problems, similar to tissue controls.
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13
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Locke D, Hoyt CC. Companion diagnostic requirements for spatial biology using multiplex immunofluorescence and multispectral imaging. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1051491. [PMID: 36845550 PMCID: PMC9948403 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1051491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunohistochemistry has long been held as the gold standard for understanding the expression patterns of therapeutically relevant proteins to identify prognostic and predictive biomarkers. Patient selection for targeted therapy in oncology has successfully relied upon standard microscopy-based methodologies, such as single-marker brightfield chromogenic immunohistochemistry. As promising as these results are, the analysis of one protein, with few exceptions, no longer provides enough information to draw effective conclusions about the probability of treatment response. More multifaceted scientific queries have driven the development of high-throughput and high-order technologies to interrogate biomarker expression patterns and spatial interactions between cell phenotypes in the tumor microenvironment. Such multi-parameter data analysis has been historically reserved for technologies that lack the spatial context that is provided by immunohistochemistry. Over the past decade, technical developments in multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry and discoveries made with improving image data analysis platforms have highlighted the importance of spatial relationships between certain biomarkers in understanding a patient's likelihood to respond to, typically, immune checkpoint inhibitors. At the same time, personalized medicine has instigated changes in both clinical trial design and its conduct in a push to make drug development and cancer treatment more efficient, precise, and economical. Precision medicine in immuno-oncology is being steered by data-driven approaches to gain insight into the tumor and its dynamic interaction with the immune system. This is particularly necessary given the rapid growth in the number of trials involving more than one immune checkpoint drug, and/or using those in combination with conventional cancer treatments. As multiplex methods, like immunofluorescence, push the boundaries of immunohistochemistry, it becomes critical to understand the foundation of this technology and how it can be deployed for use as a regulated test to identify the prospect of response from mono- and combination therapies. To that end, this work will focus on: 1) the scientific, clinical, and economic requirements for developing clinical multiplex immunofluorescence assays; 2) the attributes of the Akoya Phenoptics workflow to support predictive tests, including design principles, verification, and validation needs; 3) regulatory, safety and quality considerations; 4) application of multiplex immunohistochemistry through lab-developed-tests and regulated in vitro diagnostic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren Locke
- Clinical Assay Development, Akoya Biosciences, Marlborough, MA, United States,*Correspondence: Darren Locke,
| | - Clifford C. Hoyt
- Translational and Scientific Affairs, Akoya Biosciences, Marlborough, MA, United States
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14
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Haragan A, Dodson A, Thunnissen E. Response to the Article by Sompuram et al. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100052. [PMID: 36853793 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2022.100052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Alex Haragan
- Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
| | - Andrew Dodson
- UK National External Quality Assessment Scheme for ICC & ISH, London, United Kingdom
| | - Erik Thunnissen
- Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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15
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Sompuram SR, Torlakovic EE, 't Hart NA, Vani K, Bogen SA. In Reply: Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Immunohistochemistry Calibration. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100057. [PMID: 36853795 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2022.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emina E Torlakovic
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Saskatchewan and Saskatoon Health Authority, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada; Canadian Biomarker Quality Assurance, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Nils A 't Hart
- Department of Pathology, Isala Hospital, Zwolle, the Netherlands
| | - Kodela Vani
- Boston Cell Standards Inc, Boston, Massachusetts
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16
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Layfield LJ, Zhang T, Esebua M. PD-L1 immunohistochemical testing: A review with reference to cytology specimens. Diagn Cytopathol 2023; 51:51-58. [PMID: 36053989 DOI: 10.1002/dc.25043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immunotherapy based on disruption of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis is standard of care for many high stage malignancies including melanomas, non-small cell carcinomas of the lung, triple negative breast carcinomas, and squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Eligibility for immunotherapy requires immunohistochemical assessment of PD-L1 expression. Currently, many high stage malignancies are diagnosed by cytology and cytologic material is the only specimen available for ancillary testing. Formal guidelines do not currently exist defining the optimal specimen type, antibody to be used or the best scoring system for cytologic material. Significant information has been published for PD-L1 testing of pulmonary specimens but much less data exists for the reproducibility, accuracy and best practices for material obtained from other body sites and types of malignancy. METHODS We searched the PubMed data base for manuscripts relating to PD-L1 testing of cytologic specimens. The search period was between 2016 and 2022. The search terms used were PD-L1, cytology, FNA, immunotherapy, immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, cytology-histology correlation. Cross referencing techniques were used to screen for the most relevant manuscripts. The abstracts of these were then reviewed for final data collection and analysis. RESULTS A total of 86 studies were identified conforming to study relevancy. These were reviewed in their entirety by two authors (LJL, TZ) for extraction of data. The majority of studies involved pulmonary specimens (79) with three relating to PD-L1 testing of head and neck cytologic specimens and one each for PD-L1 testing of cytology specimens from melanomas, pancreas, pleural fluids, and triple negative breast carcinomas. While smears could be used, most studies found cell blocks optimal for testing. SUMMARY Currently, four drugs are approved for immunotherapy based on PD-L1 status. These drugs require specific antibody clones as well as scoring systems. Scoring systems and cut points vary with the type of neoplasm being treated. Cytology specimens from the lung, head and neck and melanomas can all be used for PD-L1 testing with good agreement with corresponding histology specimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lester J Layfield
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Surgical Pathology, M.D. Anderson, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Magda Esebua
- Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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17
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Kim JM, Kim B, Kim E, Jang M, Cho JH, Lee HS, Kwak Y, Huang L, Krishnan R, Bai SY, Mounawar M, Kim KM. Indirect Clinical Validation of a Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Laboratory-Developed Test for Gastric/Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma with 22C3 Antibody Concentrate. Mol Diagn Ther 2022; 26:679-688. [PMID: 36125657 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-022-00605-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx used on the Dako Autostainer Link 48 (ASL48) staining platform is an established method for assessing programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in tumor tissue and determining patient eligibility for pembrolizumab treatment; however, the availability of this platform is limited in Europe and Asia. OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to develop and optimize protocols for the PD-L1 22C3 antibody concentrate with multiple immunohistochemistry staining platforms and to validate these protocols using PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS) with a cut-off of ≥ 1 in gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. DESIGN The 22C3 antibody concentrate was tested and optimized protocols were developed for use with three staining platforms: Dako ASL48, Ventana BenchMark ULTRA, and Leica BOND-MAX. Tumor specimens (N = 120) from patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma were used for the validation study; these specimens were evaluated independently by three pathologists for PD-L1 CPS as a continuous variable and using a cut-off of ≥ 1. PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx used on the Dako ASL48 platform served as the reference or gold standard. RESULTS The intraclass correlation coefficient of CPS as a continuous variable between the gold standard and each staining platform assessed was 0.910-0.989. When CPS was dichotomized based on a cut-off of ≥ 1, depending on the pathologist and the platform used, positive percentage agreement was 81-99% and negative percentage agreement was 90-100%. Interobserver agreement using the gold standard showed substantial agreement (κ = 0.779). CONCLUSION The PD-L1 22C3 antibody concentrate can potentially be used with the laboratory-developed test on three commercially available immunohistochemistry staining platforms to determine PD-L1 expression in tumor samples from patients with gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Min Kim
- Department of Pathology, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, 1071, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Binnari Kim
- Department of Pathology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, South Korea
| | - Eunji Kim
- Center of Companion Diagnostics, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-ro, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Minsun Jang
- Center of Companion Diagnostics, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-ro, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jun Hun Cho
- Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-ro, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Myeongnyun 3(sam)ga-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Hye Seung Lee
- Seoul National University Hospital, 101, Daehak-ro Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, 103, Daehak-ro Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yoonjin Kwak
- Seoul National University College of Medicine, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | | | | | - Sally Y Bai
- Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA
- AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Kyoung-Mee Kim
- Center of Companion Diagnostics, Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-ro, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
- Samsung Medical Center, 81 Irwon-ro, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
- Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Myeongnyun 3(sam)ga-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea.
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18
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Munari E, Querzoli G, Brunelli M, Marconi M, Sommaggio M, Cocchi MA, Martignoni G, Netto GJ, Caliò A, Quatrini L, Mariotti FR, Luchini C, Girolami I, Eccher A, Segala D, Ciompi F, Zamboni G, Moretta L, Bogina G. Comparison of three validated PD-L1 immunohistochemical assays in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder: interchangeability and issues related to patient selection. Front Immunol 2022; 13:954910. [PMID: 35967344 PMCID: PMC9363581 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.954910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Different programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) assays and scoring algorithms are being used in the evaluation of PD-L1 expression for the selection of patients for immunotherapy in specific settings of advanced urothelial carcinoma (UC). In this paper, we sought to investigate three approved assays (Ventana SP142 and SP263, and Dako 22C3) in UC with emphasis on implications for patient selection for atezolizumab/pembrolizumab as the first line of treatment. Tumors from 124 patients with invasive UC of the bladder were analyzed using tissue microarrays (TMA). Serial sections were stained with SP263 and SP142 on Ventana Benchmark Ultra and with 22C3 on Dako Autostainer Link 48. Stains were evaluated independently by two observers and scored using the combined positive score (CPS) and tumor infiltrating immune cells (IC) algorithms. Differences in proportions (DP), overall percent agreement (OPA), positive percent agreement (PPA), negative percent agreement (NPA), and Cohen κ were calculated for all comparable cases. Good overall concordance in analytic performance was observed for 22C3 and SP263 with both scoring algorithms; specifically, the highest OPA was observed between 22C3 and SP263 (89.6%) when using CPS. On the other hand, SP142 consistently showed lower positivity rates with high differences in proportions (DP) compared with 22C3 and SP263 with both CPS and IC, and with a low PPA, especially when using the CPS algorithm. In conclusion, 22C3 and SP263 assays show comparable analytical performance while SP142 shows divergent staining results, with important implications for the selection of patients for both pembrolizumab and atezolizumab.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Munari
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- *Correspondence: Enrico Munari, ; Lorenzo Moretta,
| | - Giulia Querzoli
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Marcella Marconi
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Marco A. Cocchi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Guido Martignoni
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Pathology Unit, Pederzoli Hospital, Peschiera del Garda, Verona, Italy
| | - George J. Netto
- Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
| | - Anna Caliò
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Linda Quatrini
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Claudio Luchini
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | - Albino Eccher
- Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Diego Segala
- Pathology Unit, ASST Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesco Ciompi
- Computational Pathology Group, Department of Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Giuseppe Zamboni
- Pathology Unit, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University and Hospital Trust of Verona, Verona, Italy
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Moretta
- Tumor Immunology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Enrico Munari, ; Lorenzo Moretta,
| | - Giuseppe Bogina
- Pathology Unit, IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy
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Chen X, Wu W, Wei W, Zou L. Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:869488. [PMID: 35559250 PMCID: PMC9086454 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.869488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are highly heterogeneous and present significant treatment challenges. Immune checkpoint therapies, such as PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitors, have significantly changed the clinical management paradigm of tumors. The roles of immune checkpoints in PTCL and related agents have been actively explored over recent years. PD-1 and PD-L1 expression is detectable in both PTCL and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment and forms the basis for the exploration of antibodies targeting these proteins. Such antibodies are currently being investigated in clinical trials to guide individualized therapy. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors alone and in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or targeted therapy have shown broad clinical efficacy and improved the survival of cancer patients. Studies of other immune checkpoint proteins, such as CTLA-4, TIM-3, LAG-3, and TIGIT, are likely to provide potential novel targets for immunotherapy. Here, we review the role of and recent advances in immune checkpoint blockade in common subtypes of PTCL, focusing on the anti-tumor immune responses to PD-1/PD-L1 blockers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Chen
- Department of Radiotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanchun Wu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenwen Wei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Liqun Zou
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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