<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec><h3>Background</h3>
<p>Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) is the most common type non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, where the treatment of relapsed/refractory cases is the major challenge. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 play a crucial role in the negative regulation of the immune response against the disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on lymphoma cells (LCs) and tumor-immune cells (TICs) and to investigate their correlation with outcome.</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Patients and methods</h3>
<p>Samples from 283 patients diagnosed with DLBCL, NOS (both germinal center B cell like [GCB] and non-GCB subtypes) were included in the study. Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was determined using double immunohistochemical staining (D-IHC) for PD-1/PAX5 and PD-L1/PAX5 on tissue microarrays. LCs were highlighted by D-IHC to obtain more accurate results. Clinical data and histologic diagnoses were obtained from electronic data records. We correlated clinical characteristics, and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on LCs and TICs with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Results</h3>
<p>Expression of PD-1 on TICs was observed in 38.4% and on LCs in 8.8% of cases, while PD-L1 was expressed on TICs in 46.8% and on LCs in 6.5% of cases. PD-L1 expression on LCs was more frequent in non-GCB subtype (p = 0.047). In addition, patients with PD-L1 expression on LCs had significantly shorter PFS (p = 0.015), and the expression retained significant in the multivariate model (p = 0.034).</p>
</sec>
<sec><h3>Conclusions</h3>
<p>PD-L1 was more frequently expressed in LCs of the non-GCB subtype. Additionally, PD-L1 in LCs may predict shorter PFS time. D-IHC staining for PD-L1/PAX5 is a feasible method to assess PD-L1 expression on LCs of DLBCL, NOS patients and can be used to identify patients who may benefit from targeted immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors.</p>
</sec>
</abstract>

Background
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) is the most common type non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, where the treatment of relapsed/refractory cases is the major challenge. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1 play a crucial role in the negative regulation of the immune response against the disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on lymphoma cells (LCs) and tumor-immune cells (TICs) and to investigate their correlation with outcome.

Patients and methods
Samples from 283 patients diagnosed with DLBCL, NOS (both germinal center B cell like [GCB] and non-GCB subtypes) were included in the study. Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was determined using double immunohistochemical staining (D-IHC) for PD-1/PAX5 and PD-L1/PAX5 on tissue microarrays. LCs were highlighted by D-IHC to obtain more accurate results. Clinical data and histologic diagnoses were obtained from electronic data records. We correlated clinical characteristics, and PD-1 and PD-L1 expression on LCs and TICs with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results
Expression of PD-1 on TICs was observed in 38.4% and on LCs in 8.8% of cases, while PD-L1 was expressed on TICs in 46.8% and on LCs in 6.5% of cases. PD-L1 expression on LCs was more frequent in non-GCB subtype (p = 0.047). In addition, patients with PD-L1 expression on LCs had significantly shorter PFS (p = 0.015), and the expression retained significant in the multivariate model (p = 0.034).

Conclusions
PD-L1 was more frequently expressed in LCs of the non-GCB subtype. Additionally, PD-L1 in LCs may predict shorter PFS time. D-IHC staining for PD-L1/PAX5 is a feasible method to assess PD-L1 expression on LCs of DLBCL, NOS patients and can be used to identify patients who may benefit from targeted immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors.

The prognostic significance of programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand on lymphoma cells and tumor-immune cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified

Radiology and Oncology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Background
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL, NOS) is the most common type non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, where the treatment of...

The prognostic significance of programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand on lymphoma cells and tumor-immune cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 21, 2024

Page range: 99 - 109

Received: Nov 07, 2023

Accepted: Nov 25, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2024-0010

Keywords
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistry, PD-1, PD-L1, PAX5

© 2024 Teja Cas Slak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

The prognostic significance of programmed cell death protein 1 and its ligand on lymphoma cells and tumor-immune cells in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified

Article Category: Research Article

Published Online: Feb 21, 2024

Page range: 99 - 109

Received: Nov 07, 2023

Accepted: Nov 25, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2024-0010

Keywordsdiffuse large B-cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistry, PD-1, PD-L1, PAX5

© 2024 Teja Cas Slak et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistry, PD-1, PD-L1, PAX5