Programmed death‑ligand 1 expression in tumor cells and tumor‑infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with depth of tumor invasion in penile cancer

Sangkhamanon,Sakkarn; Kotano,Natcha; Sirithanaphol,Wichien; Rompsaithong,Ukrit; Kiatsopit,Pakorn; Sookprasert,Aumkhae; Wirasorn,Kosin; Twinprai,Prin; Watcharenwong,Piyakarn; Chindaprasirt,Jarin

doi:10.3892/br.2023.1627

Programmed death‑ligand 1 expression in tumor cells and tumor‑infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with depth of tumor invasion in penile cancer

Authors:
- Sakkarn Sangkhamanon
- Natcha Kotano
- Wichien Sirithanaphol
- Ukrit Rompsaithong
- Pakorn Kiatsopit
- Aumkhae Sookprasert
- Kosin Wirasorn
- Prin Twinprai
- Piyakarn Watcharenwong
- Jarin Chindaprasirt
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Affiliations: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand, Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Published online on: May 29, 2023 https://doi.org/10.3892/br.2023.1627
Article Number: 44
Copyright: © Sangkhamanon et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

The present study aimed to demonstrate the proportion of the programmed death‑ligand 1 (PD‑L1) expression in penile cancer patients and the association with clinicopathological parameters. Formalin‑fixed paraffin‑embedded specimens were obtained from 43 patients with primary penile squamous cell carcinoma treated at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, between 2008 and 2018. PD‑L1 expression was evaluated by the immunohistochemistry using an SP263 monoclonal antibody. PD‑L1 positivity was defined as >25% tumor cell staining or >25% tumor‑associated immune cell staining. The correlation between PD‑L1 expression and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. A total of eight of 43 patients (18.6%) were identified as positive for PD‑L1 expression in tumor cells and tumor‑infiltrating lymphocytes. In the PD‑L1 positive group, there was a significant association with pathological T stage (P=0.014) with a higher percentage of PD‑L1 positive tumors in T1 stage compared with T2‑T4 stage. In this cohort, there was a trend towards longer survival in patients with positive PD‑L1 expression (5‑year OS: 75% vs. 61.2%, P=0.19). Lymph node involvement and the location of tumor at the shaft of penis were two independent prognostic factors for survival. In conclusion, the PD‑L1 expression was detected in 18% of penile cancer patients and high expression of PD‑L1 was associated with the early T stage.

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