title: PD-L1 predicts poor prognosis for nasopharyngeal carcinoma irrespective of PD-1 and EBV-DNA load.
abstract: Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is an immunosuppressive receptor functionally bound with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), which has been reported in various malignancies. However, only a few studies are available for the clinical significance of PD-1/PD-L1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In this study, we aim to investigate alterations in PD-1/PD-L1 by using immunohistochemistry analysis in a cohort of consecutively enrolled NPC patients (n = 99). To further analyse the correlation between PD-1/PD-L1 and factors involved in clinico-pathology, haematologic biomarkers, EBV-DNA load and outcomes, we collected clinical data for statistical analysis. We observed that lower haemoglobin (HB) and Body Mass Index (BMI) levels were associated with high levels of PD-L1 staining in NPC patients. Importantly, our results suggested that PD-L1 might be a negative indicator for NPC patients. In contrast, a correlation between the PD-1/PD-L1 level and EBV load was not identified. Moreover, PD-1 positivity was suggested to not be significantly correlated with clinical outcomes. Taken together, our results revealed that PD-L1 might be a potential prognostic biomarker for NPC patients. However, further studies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanism of EBV status in the immunosuppression process induced by the PD-1/PD-L1 axis.
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumour Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.|Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yajuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Dingbo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nasopharynx, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Nasopharynx, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Haijun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jiewei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Department of Nasopharynx, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medical, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Wuguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumour Biological Behaviors, Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Conghua
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001706:Biopsy; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015870:Gene Expression; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016246:Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077274:Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor / Q000378:metabolism; D019562:Viral Load; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C423236:CD274 protein, human; C105992:PDCD1 protein, human; D061026:Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor