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Strong PD-L1 expression in granulomatous prostatitis
Dorian Dikov1,2, Maria Koleva1, Angelina Mollova1
1Department of General and Clinical Pathology, Medical University of Plovdiv, Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
Background:
The expression of programmed cell death ligand protein (PD-L1) is weakly investigated in non-tumoral and inflammatory prostatic pathology. The diagnosis of granulomatous prostatitis (GP) rests on the recognition of localized or diffuse epithelioid granulomatous inflammation in prostatic tissue which is frequently difficult by conventional histological observation alone. PD-L1 expression in GP is not well studied so far.
Methods:
We studied PD-L1 expression in 17 GP cases (9 nonspecific GP, 5 Bacillus Calmette-Guérin induced prostatitis, 1 prostatic tuberculosis, and 3 cases of postsurgical prostatic granulomas). The control group included 10 radical prostatectomies of patients with high Gleason score prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) and National Institutes of Health-category IV prostatitis (high-grade histologic prostatitis; HG-HP).
Results:
All of the GP cases showed easily visible strong membranous PD-L1 expression (high levels of combined positive score) in localized and diffuse epithelioid granulomatous prostatic inflammation. None of the control cases showed the presence of significant PD-L1 expression in inflammatory infiltrates in HG-HP, tumor parenchyma, and stroma in PCa.
Conclusions:
The study presents the first attempt to examine PD-L1 expression in GP. Granulomatous inflammation in GP is easily identified when stained with PD-L1.
Insights
Programmed cell death ligand protein (PD-L1) is strongly expressed in granulomatous prostatitis (GP), aiding diagnosis. This finding helps identify granulomatous inflammation in prostate tissue, improving diagnostic accuracy for this condition.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Programmed cell death ligand protein (PD-L1) expression is understudied in non-tumoral and inflammatory prostate conditions.
- Diagnosing granulomatous prostatitis (GP) can be challenging using conventional histology alone.
- PD-L1 expression in GP has not been extensively investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate PD-L1 expression in various forms of granulomatous prostatitis (GP).
- To assess the utility of PD-L1 as a diagnostic marker for GP.
- To compare PD-L1 expression in GP with control prostate tissues.
Main Methods:
- Studied PD-L1 expression in 17 cases of GP, including nonspecific GP, BCG-induced prostatitis, tuberculosis, and postsurgical granulomas.
- Utilized a control group of 10 radical prostatectomies from patients with prostate adenocarcinoma (PCa) and high-grade histologic prostatitis (HG-HP).
Main Results:
- All GP cases exhibited strong, easily visible membranous PD-L1 expression in granulomatous inflammation.
- Control cases, including HG-HP and PCa tissues, showed no significant PD-L1 expression in inflammatory infiltrates, tumor parenchyma, or stroma.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to examine PD-L1 expression in granulomatous prostatitis (GP).
- PD-L1 staining effectively identifies granulomatous inflammation in GP, suggesting its utility as a diagnostic aid.
