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PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH LIGAND 1 (PD-L1) EXPRESSION IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER CASES IN BENIN CITY
D O Owolabi1, A N Olu-Eddo1, V J Ekanem2
1Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria.
Background:
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) have been particularly challenging to manage due to their lack of intrinsic cellular receptors, with the resultant relatively higher morbidity and mortality. Recently, the programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD- L1) immune checkpoint pathway has become the focus of immunotherapy, especially for TNBCs. This study aimed to determine the pattern of expression of PD-L1 in TNBC cases in Benin City.
Methods:
It was a 3-year retrospective study that involved the PD-L1 immunostaining of the TNBC cases that were diagnosed in the Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019.
Result:
Ninety-two cases of TNBC were tested for PD-L1 expression. Thirteen (14.1%) of the TNBC cases were PDL1 positive to varying degrees on tumour and immune cells. Diffuse tumoural PD-L1 staining was seen in 4 (30.8%) of the PD-L1 positive cases. PD-L1 expression was significantly associated with increasing age up to the fifth decade (p =0.030). All the PD-L1 positive TNBC were invasive breast carcinoma of no special type and mostly grade 2 tumours; however, there was no significant association between PD-L1 expression and histological subtype or grade.
Conclusion:
PD-L1 expression was shown to occur at a relatively low rate among TNBC cases in this environment and was significantly associated with increasing age. This study has shown that 14.1% (1 in 7) of our TNBC patients could benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Insights
Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is low in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in Benin City, occurring in 14.1% of cases. This finding indicates that a subset of TNBC patients may benefit from immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Pathology
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant management challenges due to a lack of specific cellular receptors, leading to higher morbidity and mortality.
- The programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) pathway is a key target for immunotherapy, particularly in TNBC.
- Understanding PD-L1 expression patterns is crucial for predicting treatment response in TNBC.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and patterns of PD-L1 expression in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases.
- To assess the potential for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in TNBC patients in Benin City.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective study was conducted over three years (2017-2019).
- PD-L1 immunostaining was performed on 92 diagnosed TNBC cases.
- Tumour and immune cell PD-L1 expression was analyzed.
Main Results:
- PD-L1 expression was detected in 14.1% (13 out of 92) of TNBC cases.
- Diffuse tumoral PD-L1 staining was observed in 30.8% of PD-L1 positive cases.
- PD-L1 expression showed a significant association with increasing age up to the fifth decade (p=0.030).
Conclusions:
- PD-L1 expression occurs at a low rate in the studied TNBC population.
- Approximately 14.1% of TNBC patients in this cohort may be candidates for immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.
- Age is a significant factor associated with PD-L1 expression in TNBC.
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