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Potential role of the PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on neuroblastoma

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Abstract

Purpose

The programmed death 1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway has garnered much attention for its roles in clinical oncology. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical impact of the PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) on neuroblastoma.

Methods

We evaluated the PD-L1 expression and TIL status in 31 patients with neuroblastoma who underwent a biopsy or resection by an immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, we performed the serial analysis of the PD-L1 status before and after chemotherapy in 15 patients.

Results

Among the 31 cases, 11 (35%) showed a positive PD-L1 expression. The survival analysis showed a trend toward an association between PD-L1 positivity and a decreased overall survival. PD-L1 positivity tended to be associated with higher levels of tumor markers. In the serial analysis of the PD-L1 status, positivity was noted in 8 of 15 patients before chemotherapy and 6 after chemotherapy. Notably, all four patients with a positive PD-L1 status both before and after chemotherapy had recurrence, and 3 of them died during the follow-up period.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that the PD-L1 tumor expression might be a good biomarker for the treatment of neuroblastoma patients, especially for advanced neuroblastoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Nara Medical University, Shijocho 840, Kashihara, Nara, 634-8522, Japan

    Shogo Zuo, Masayuki Sho, Toshio Sawai & Hiromichi Kanehiro

  2. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Kobe Children’s Hospital, Hyogo, Japan

    Kosaku Maeda

  3. Department of Pathology, Kobe Children’s Hospital, Hyogo, Japan

    Makiko Yoshida

  4. Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan

    Ryo Tsukada, Motonari Nomura & Hiroomi Okuyama

Authors
  1. Shogo Zuo
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Correspondence to Masayuki Sho.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest associated with this manuscript.

Ethical standards

This study was approved by the Ethics Committees of Nara Medical University Hospital (No. 1662), Kobe Children’s Hospital (No. 30-33).

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Zuo, S., Sho, M., Sawai, T. et al. Potential role of the PD-L1 expression and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes on neuroblastoma. Pediatr Surg Int 36, 137–143 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-019-04616-9

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