Prognostic value of PD-L1 and PD-1 expression in pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors

Programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its ligand, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), play critical roles in the immune invasion of various tumors. This study aimed to explore the clinical significance of PD-L1/PD-1 expression in the progression of pulmonary neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs).

The expression of PD-L1 and PD-1 in 80 patients diagnosed with PNETs were investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on 80 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue specimens from PNETs and 20 corresponding cancer-adjacent tissue specimens.

Tissues from PNETs had higher levels of PD-L1 (58.8%) and PD-1 (51.3%) compared to the cancer-adjacent tissues (25% and 20%, respectively). Meanwhile, PD-L1 expression was associated with PD-1 expression (P=0.007). PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with histological type (P=0.014) and tumor stage (P=0.014). Univariate analyses showed that the overall survival time of PNETs patients was significantly associated with PD-L1 expression in cancer cells (P=0.003), PD-1 expression in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (P=0.001), tumor node metastasis stage (P<0.05), and distant metastasis (P<0.001). Additionally, multivariate analysis revealed that PD-L1 expression, PD1 expression, and distant metastasis of PNETs were independently associated with survival time. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival curves analysis revealed that patients with negative PD-L1 and PD-1 expression had better prognoses.

Data suggested that PD-L1 and PD-1 can be useful prognostic biomarkers for survival and can pave the way toward new immunotherapy regimens against PNETs through targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 pathway.