Kareer R, Ahuja S, Chaudhary N, Arora R. Association of PD-L1 and p16 expression with clinicopathological parameters in oral cavity and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
Pathol Res Pract 2023;
241:154266. [PMID:
36516642 DOI:
10.1016/j.prp.2022.154266]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
High expression of PD-L1 in tumour cells is associated with a higher response rate to immune checkpoint inhibitors, which target T regulatory pathways. p16 is a surrogate marker for human papilloma virus associated cancers. The present study was conducted to evaluate PD-L1 and p16 expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Histologically confirmed cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas were evaluated for PD-L1 and p16 expression along with its correlation with grade and site of the tumour.
RESULTS
Out of 40 cases, 21 (52.5 %) showed positive immunoreactivity for PD-L1 while 13 (32.5 %) were positive for p16. A significant association was observed between PD-L1 and p16 expression in the oropharynx (p value= 0.035). No significant association could be established between clinicopathological parameters and PD-L1/ p16 expression or between PD-L1 and p16 in the oral cavity.
CONCLUSION
PD-L1 expression shows a positive association with p16 in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas. Immune checkpoint inhibitors against PD-L1 can be used in carcinomas with positive expression for PD-L1.
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