Betel-nut chewing does not influence PD-L1 expression rates in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC): A prospective biomarker prevalence study

• Published in: Oral oncology 2024-05, Vol.152, p.106760, Article 106760
• Main Authors: Hong, Ruey-Long, Yen, Chia-Jui, Lien, Ming-Yu, Cheng, Rebecca, Su, Yu-Wen, Lin, Han-Nan, Poon, Song Ling, Chien, Chih-Yen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Areca - adverse effects; B7-H1 Antigen - metabolism; Biomarkers, Tumor - metabolism; Female; Head and Neck Neoplasms - metabolism; Head and Neck Neoplasms - pathology; Humans; Male; Mastication; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - epidemiology; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - metabolism; Prevalence; Prospective Studies; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - metabolism; Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck - pathology; Taiwan - epidemiology
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2024.106760

•PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥ 1) was found in 94.3% of R/M HNSCC patients.•PD-L1 expression rates do not differ in those with or without betel nut exposure.•Prior lines of systemic therapy did not influence PD-L1 expression rates. This study explored the relationship between betel-nut chewing and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) patients in Taiwan. A total 280 R/M HNSCC patients, predominantly male, were evaluated; 75.4 % of whom chewed betel-nut. The prevalence of PD-L1 expression (combined positive score ≥1) was 94.3 % with similar PD-L1 expression rates between betel-nut-exposed and non-exposed groups. PD-L1 prevalence did not differ in those who received prior first-or second-line systemic therapy. In summary, betel-nut exposure did not notably affect PD-L1 expression rates in R/M HNSCC patients in Taiwan.