PD-L1 Expression in Cutaneous Angiosarcomas: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Cutaneous angiosarcoma (CAS) is a rare and aggressive cancer predominantly affecting older Caucasians.
• Understanding biomarkers like programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is crucial for developing effective immunotherapies for CAS.
• Current data on PD-L1 expression in CAS and its potential impact on treatment outcomes is fragmented.

Approach:

• A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the pooled prevalence of PD-L1 expression in CAS.
• Literature searches were performed across PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases using specific keywords.
• Ten studies encompassing 279 CAS cases were included in the final analysis.

Key Points:

• The overall pooled prevalence of PD-L1 expression in cutaneous angiosarcoma was found to be 54% (95% CI 36-71%).
• Significant heterogeneity was observed in the prevalence of PD-L1 expression across studies (I² = 84.81%).
• Subgroup analysis revealed a notably lower PD-L1 expression in Asian studies (35%) compared to European studies (71%).

Conclusions:

• The findings highlight a substantial prevalence of PD-L1 expression in CAS, suggesting potential for immunotherapy.
• The observed geographical variation in PD-L1 expression warrants further investigation and may influence treatment strategies.
• This meta-analysis provides a comprehensive overview of PD-L1 expression in CAS, informing future clinical trials and therapeutic development.