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Updated: Nov 3, 2025

Development of a 68Gallium-Labeled D-Peptide PET Tracer for Imaging Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Expression
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Programmed Death-Ligand 1 as a Regulator of Tumor Progression and Metastasis

Ioannis A Vathiotis1,2, Georgia Gomatou1, Dimitrios J Stravopodis3

  • 1Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15772 Athens, Greece.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|June 2, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) has a tumor-intrinsic role beyond immune suppression. PD-L1 expression correlates with cancer progression, stemness, and metastasis, suggesting oncogenic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway is a key immune checkpoint.
  • PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors target tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes to enhance antitumor immunity.
  • Emerging evidence suggests a tumor-intrinsic function for PD-L1 independent of immune modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the literature on the tumor-intrinsic functions of PD-L1.
  • To explore the association between PD-L1 expression and cancer hallmarks.
  • To summarize the prognostic significance of PD-L1 in various cancers.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of preclinical studies.
  • Analysis of data linking PD-L1 expression to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT).
  • Examination of PD-L1's role in cancer stemness and oncogenic pathways.

Main Results:

  • PD-L1 protein expression is linked to features of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition program.
  • PD-L1 is associated with cancer stemness and established oncogenic pathways.
  • Studies indicate prognostic significance of PD-L1 across different tumor types.

Conclusions:

  • PD-L1 possesses tumor-intrinsic oncogenic potential.
  • PD-L1 may regulate tumor progression and metastasis.
  • The role of PD-L1 extends beyond immune checkpoint inhibition.
Keywords:
PD-1PD-L1cancermetastasisprogression

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