Virtual Library
Start Your Search
B. Morrow
Author of
-
+
ORAL 40 - Biology 1 (ID 154)
- Event: WCLC 2015
- Type: Oral Session
- Track: Thymoma, Mesothelioma and Other Thoracic Malignancies
- Presentations: 1
- Moderators:C. Brambilla, R. Bueno
- Coordinates: 9/09/2015, 16:45 - 18:15, 702+704+706
-
+
ORAL40.01 - PD-L1 Is Highly Expressed in Malignant Mesothelioma and PD-1<sup>+ </sup>Lymphocytes within Malignant Effusions Induce PD-L1 Expression (ID 553)
16:45 - 16:56 | Author(s): B. Morrow
- Abstract
- Presentation
Background:
The PD-1 and PD-L1 pathway is an immune checkpoint, which protects normal tissues from immune attack by curbing the effector T-cell response but can also prevent anti-tumor immune response. However their role in mesothelioma is not well understood. The present study aimed to understand the PD-1 and PD-L1 expression levels and their interactions in mesothelioma patients.
Methods:
Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma tumor samples from patients who were evaluated for various clinical trials at the NCI Center for Cancer Research were tested for PD-L1 expression (Anti-PD-L1 rabbit monoclonal recombinant primary antibody MKP-1B-196-10; Merck-Serono). PD-L1 expression on primary and established mesothelioma cell lines, malignant pleural effusions and ascites of mesothelioma patients were assessed using a commercial anti-PD-L1 antibody and analyzed by flow cytometry. Paired malignant effusion and peripheral blood samples were tested for PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on immune cells. Co-cultures of autologous tumor cells and T cells grown from malignant effusions of a mesothelioma patient were evaluated to understand the PD-1 and PD-L1 interaction.
Results:
Tumor samples from 65 patients included 44 peritoneal and 21 pleural mesotheliomas; 55 with epithelioid histology and 10 of other subtypes (sarcomatoid 2, biphasic 3, uncategorized 5). 41 of 65 (63%) tumors were positive for PD-L1 expression (defined as >5% PD-L1 expression on tumor cells, of any intensity) with levels of expression ranging from 5% to 80% of tumor cells, and intensities from 1+ to 3+. 24 (37%) were negative including 10 with focal staining. A higher proportion of males had tumor PD-L1 expression than females (73% vs. 46%; p=0.04). There was no association between PD-L1 expression and primary site of disease, age, race, histology and distant metastasis. Patients with PD-L1 positive tumors had a numerically inferior overall survival than patients with PD-L1 negative tumors (23.0 months vs.33.3 months; p=0.35). All 6 primary and 4 established mesothelioma cell lines tested showed basal expression of PD-L1. This was enhanced on treatment with IFN-γ. The fraction of cells expressing PD-L1 in malignant effusions ranged from 17 to 43%. Malignant effusions from 2 of 3 patients had high PD-1 expression on both CD4[+] and CD8[+] T cells. In addition, CD8[+] T cells in malignant effusions had significantly higher levels of PD-L1 expression compared to CD8[+] T cells in peripheral blood (7.47±2.75 % T cells versus 1.97±1.22% T cells; p=0.03). Autologous lymphocytes when co-cultured with tumor cells from malignant effusion, recognized tumor cells and induced IFN-γ mediated PD-L1 expression on their surface.
Conclusion:
High PD-L1 expression in mesothelioma patient tumor samples and tumor cells derived from malignant effusions, as well as presence of PD-1[+] T cells in these effusions indicates the prominent role of PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in maintaining an immunosuppressive milieu in mesothelioma. Thus, inhibiting this pathway could be useful therapeutically.
Only Members that have purchased this event or have registered via an access code will be able to view this content. To view this presentation, please login, select "Add to Cart" and proceed to checkout. If you would like to become a member of IASLC, please click here.
