PD-L1 expression correlated with p53 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma

• Published in: Maxillofacial plastic and reconstructive surgery 2019, 41(12), , pp.1-6
• Main Authors: Tojyo, Itaru, Shintani, Yukari, Nakanishi, Takashi, Okamoto, Kenjiro, Hiraishi, Yukihiro, Fujita, Shigeyuki, Enaka, Mayu, Sato, Fuyuki, Muragaki, Yasuteru
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apoptosis; Cancer; Cell cycle; Cell division; Cytokeratin 17 (CK17); Dentistry; Disease-specific survival rate; Immunohistochemistry; Ligands; Medical prognosis; Medicine; Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery; Oral cancer; Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC); Plastic Surgery; Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1); Protein 53 (p53); Proteins; Squamous cell carcinoma; Tumors; 치의학
• ISSN: 2288-8101; 2288-8586; 2288-8586
• DOI: 10.1186/s40902-019-0239-8

Background Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an immune checkpoint molecule that attenuates the immune response. PD-L1 contributes to failed antitumor immunity; thereby, blockade of PD-L1 with monoclonal antibody enhances the immune response. Recently, it was reported that PD-L1 was regulated by protein 53 (p53). Besides, cytokeratin 17 (CK17) is thought to be a diagnostic marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1, p53 and CK17 with clinicopathological characteristics and disease-specific survival in patients with OSCC. Methods A total of 48 patients with OSCC were included in this study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to evaluate the correlation among the expressions of PD-L1, p53 and CK17, and furthermore the correlation among various clinicopathological factors, PD-L1, p53 and CK17. Results The positive rate of p53, CK17, PD-L1 (tumor cells) and PD-L1 (tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes) was 63.2%, 91.7%, 48.9% and 57.1%. A statistically significant correlation between p53 expression and T stage and TNM stage ( p = 0.049, p = 0.03, respectively) was observed. Also, a statistically significant correlation between p53 and PD-L1 (TCs) expression ( p = 0.0009) was observed. Five-year disease-specific survival rate was not significantly correlated with gender, TNM stage, p53 expression, PD-L1 expression and CK17 expression. Conclusion The expression of p53 and PD-L1 shows significantly positive correlation in oral squamous cell carcinoma in tumor cells. Also, a significant correlation between p53 expression and T stage and TNM stage was observed. No other significant correlation between PD-L1 staining or CK17 and clinical or pathologic characteristics was identified.