Expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) in urothelial bladder carcinoma (immunohistochemical and histopathological study)

Abstract

The aim of this work is to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in tumor cells of urothelial bladder carcinoma. PD-L1 immunoexpression was assessed on 20 cases of radical cystectomy specimens using monoclonal rabbit anti- PD-L1 antibody. Extent of membranous PD-L1 expression was assigned in each case. Tumor cells showing > 5% expression were considered positive. PD-L1was seen in 6 (30%) cases [1 case score +2 and 5 cases score +3], while 14(70%) cases were negative [7 cases score 0 and 7 cases score +1]. PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was insignificantly correlated with different available clinicopathological parameters such as sex, pathological stage, associatedbilharzial infestation, necrosis, perineural invasion and associated tumor infiltrating mononuclear cells (TIMCs), although PD-L1 positivity tend to predominate in advanced pathological stage of tumor (T3 and T4). These findings may have clinical implications for the management of patients with PD-L1 positive urothelial bladder carcinoma.

Keywords

• pdl-1
• ubc
• immunohistochemistry