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Updated: Nov 26, 2025
Multiplexed Immunofluorescence Analysis and Quantification of Intratumoral PD-1+ Tim-3+ CD8+ T Cells
Published on: February 8, 2018
Current understanding of cancer-intrinsic PD-L1: regulation of expression and its protumoral activity
Pedram Yadollahi1, You-Kyoung Jeon1, Wooi Loon Ng2
1Innovative Therapeutic Research Institute, Inje University, Busan 47397; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Korea.
Abstract:
In the last decade, we have witnessed an unprecedented clinical success in cancer immunotherapies targeting the programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell-death 1 (PD-1) pathway. Besides the fact that PD-L1 plays a key role in immune regulation in tumor microenvironment, recently a plethora of reports has suggested a new perspective of non-immunological functions of PD-L1 in the regulation of cancer intrinsic activities including mesenchymal transition, glucose and lipid metabolism, stemness, and autophagy. Here we review the current understanding on the regulation of expression and intrinsic protumoral activity of cancer-intrinsic PD-L1. [BMB Reports 2021; 54(1): 12-20].
Insights
Programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) has shown clinical success in cancer immunotherapy. Emerging research reveals PD-L1 also regulates cancer-intrinsic activities beyond immune response, impacting tumor progression.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapies targeting the programmed cell-death 1 (PD-1) and programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway have achieved significant clinical success.
- While PD-L1 is known for its role in immune regulation within the tumor microenvironment, recent studies highlight its non-immunological functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of cancer-intrinsic programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1).
- To explore the regulation of PD-L1 expression and its protumoral activities within cancer cells.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of recent reports on PD-L1.
- Analysis of studies investigating PD-L1's role in cancer-intrinsic processes.
Main Results:
- PD-L1 plays a crucial role in immune regulation in the tumor microenvironment.
- PD-L1 influences cancer-intrinsic activities such as epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metabolism, stemness, and autophagy.
- Regulation of PD-L1 expression impacts its protumoral functions.
Conclusions:
- PD-L1 exhibits significant non-immunological functions that promote cancer progression.
- Understanding these intrinsic roles of PD-L1 is crucial for developing novel cancer therapies.
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