Expression of Programmed Death-Ligand 1 in Cervical Cancer: Correlation With Histologic Subtypes and Clinicopathological Features.
Cervical cancer remains a significant global health challenge, with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma representing its predominant histologic types. Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in cervical cancer has been implicated in tumor immune evasion, yet its prognostic significance remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate PD-L1 expression in cervical cancer and its association with clinicopathological features and patient survival.
This study included formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from forty-seven patients with cervical cancer. PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlated with clinical data, HPV status (determined by p16 IHC and HPV DNA PCR/genotyping), and 2-year survival outcomes. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
PD-L1 was expressed in 61.2% of cases, predominantly in keratinizing SCC (p = 0.006) and tumors with diffuse HPV positivity (p < 0.001). PD-L1 expression significantly correlated with advanced FIGO stage (p = 0.03) but not with age, vascular invasion, and 2-year survival. No significant survival difference was observed between PD-L1 positive and negative groups.
PD-L1 is frequently expressed in cervical carcinoma, especially keratinizing SCC and HPV-diffuse tumors, but its expression was not associated with 2-year survival. The heterogeneous expression and complex tumor-immune interactions suggest that PD-L1 alone is insufficient as a prognostic biomarker. Future research integrating additional immune and molecular markers is needed to improve prognostication and therapeutic stratification.
This study included formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from forty-seven patients with cervical cancer. PD-L1 expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and correlated with clinical data, HPV status (determined by p16 IHC and HPV DNA PCR/genotyping), and 2-year survival outcomes. Statistical analyses included Fisher's exact test and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.
PD-L1 was expressed in 61.2% of cases, predominantly in keratinizing SCC (p = 0.006) and tumors with diffuse HPV positivity (p < 0.001). PD-L1 expression significantly correlated with advanced FIGO stage (p = 0.03) but not with age, vascular invasion, and 2-year survival. No significant survival difference was observed between PD-L1 positive and negative groups.
PD-L1 is frequently expressed in cervical carcinoma, especially keratinizing SCC and HPV-diffuse tumors, but its expression was not associated with 2-year survival. The heterogeneous expression and complex tumor-immune interactions suggest that PD-L1 alone is insufficient as a prognostic biomarker. Future research integrating additional immune and molecular markers is needed to improve prognostication and therapeutic stratification.
Authors
Vahedpoor Vahedpoor, Matini Matini, Rahimi Rahimi, Lotfinia Lotfinia, Motedayyen Motedayyen, Hejazi Hejazi
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