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PD-L1 expression in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

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European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To evaluate the Programmed Cell Death Ligand (PD-L1) expression at diagnosis and relapse in patients with head and neck carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with radio(chemo)therapy.

Methods

PD-L1 immunohistochemistry was performed in tumor cells (TC) and immune cells (IC) in 44 patients and scored as 0 = 0%, 1 =  < 5%, 2 = 6–49% or 3 =  ≥ 50% cells.

Results

PD-L1 expression on TC before RT was scored as 0, 1, 2 and 3 in 28, 4, 8 and 4 patients, respectively. In 10 patients, IC did not show any PD-L1 expression; while in 8, 16, and 10 patients, PD-L1 expression was scored 1, 2 and 3, respectively. At relapse, 7/36 patients had a PD-L1 expression positivation in TC, while the opposite was observed in 6 patients. Overall, survival at 2 years was higher in patients with PD-L1 expression (90% versus 62.5%, p = 0.032).

Conclusion

PD-L1 expression may vary throughout the course of the disease. A re-evaluation of PD-L1 expression on biopsies at the time of recurrence should be recommended.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Radiation Oncology Department, University Hospital Morvan, 2 avenue Foch, 29200, Brest, France

    Alice Delafoy, Olivier Pradier, François Lucia & Ulrike Schick

  2. Department of Pathology, University Hospital Morvan, 2 avenue Foch, 29200, Brest, France

    Arnaud Uguen, Gilles Lemasson & Virginie Conan-Charlet

  3. LaTIM, INSERM, UMR 1101, University of Brest, ISBAM, UBO, UBL, Brest, France

    Olivier Pradier, François Lucia & Ulrike Schick

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  1. Alice Delafoy
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  2. Arnaud Uguen
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Contributions

AlD: Conceptualization; methodology; formal analysis and investigation; writing—original draft preparation; writing—review and editing. AU: Conceptualization; methodology; writing—review and editing; supervision. GL: Writing—review and editing; supervision. VC-C: Writing—review and editing; Supervision. OP: Writing—review and editing; supervision. FL: Conceptualization; methodology; writing—review and editing; supervision. US: Conceptualization; methodology; writing—review and editing; supervision.

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Correspondence to François Lucia.

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Delafoy, A., Uguen, A., Lemasson, G. et al. PD-L1 expression in recurrent head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 279, 343–351 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06777-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-021-06777-7

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