Nodular primary cutaneous melanoma is associated with PD-L1 expression

Author(s)

Giavina-Bianchi, Mara ^{[1, 2]} ; Giavina-Bianchi, Pedro ^[2] ; Sotto, Mirian Nacagamo ^[1] ; Rodig, Scott ^[3] ; Mihm, Jr., Martin ^[4] ; Festa Neto, Cyro ^[1] ; Duncan, Lyn M. ^[5] ; Kalil, Jorge ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Dermatol, Fac Med, Av Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 3 Andar, BR-05403900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Div Clin Immunol & Allergy, Fac Med, Av Dr Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 255, 8 Andar, BR-05403900 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Harvard Med Sch, Brigham & Womens Hosp, Dept Pathol, 15 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[4] Emmanuel Coll, Mihm Cutaneous Pathol Consultat Serv, 41 Louis Pasteur St, Room 360, Boston, MA 02115 - USA

^[5] Harvard Med Sch, Massachusetts Gen Hosp, Dermatopathol Unit, Pathol Serv, Warren Bldg 825, 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA 02114 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY; v. 30, n. 4, p. 352-357, JUL 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Background In previous studies, patients with Stage III melanomas expressing PD-L1 in more than 5% of their neoplastic cells had improved recurrence-free survival with anti-PD1 adjuvant therapy. Objectives We examined PD-L1 expression as a possible biomarker of primary cutaneous melanomas in the vertical growth phase. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study including 66 patients with invasive primary cutaneous melanomas. We assessed patient clinical and histopathological data and performed immunohistochemical assays with melanoma specimens from the patients to evaluate PD-L1, PD-1, CD3, CD8 and FoxP3 expression. Results We observed PD-L1 expression in 21% (14/66) of our samples, and this expression correlated with increased melanoma thickness (p = 0.002) and nodular-type melanoma (p = 0.001). After adjusting for tumor thickness using a logistic regression test, the association of PD-L1 with nodular-type melanoma persisted. Nodular-type melanoma was 6.48 times more likely to be positive for PD-L1 than other histological types (p = 0.014; 95% CI: 1.46-28.82). As expected, PD-L1 expression correlated with the number of PD-1-expressing cells in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte population (p = 0.04). No correlation with PD-L1 was observed for age, sex, tumor site, skin phototype, ulceration status, sentinel lymph node status, metastasis development or survival. Regarding the immune profile of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes of PD-L1-positive and -negative groups, no significant differences were observed in the numbers of CD3 +, CD8 + FoxP3-, CD8-FoxP3+ and CD8 + FoxP3+ cells by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion Nodular-type melanoma is associated with PD-L1 expression and may be a suitable candidate for adjuvant therapy of primary melanomas treated with immunotherapy. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/20928-9 - PD-L1 expression analyzes in Cutaneous Melanoma
• Grantee: Mara Huffenbaecher Giavina-Bianchi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral