Evaluation of PD-L1 and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in paired pretreatment biopsies and post neoadjuvant chemotherapy surgical specimens of breast carcinoma

Author(s)

Hoffmann, Lucas Grecco ^{[1, 2]} ; Sarian, Luis Otavio ^[3] ; Vassallo, Jose ^{[2, 4]} ; de Paiva Silva, Geisilene Russano ^[5] ; Botelho Ramalho, Susana Oliveira ^[6] ; Ferracini, Amanda Canato ^[1] ; Araujo, Karina da Silva ^[2] ; Jales, Rodrigo Menezes ^[3] ; Figueira, Deayra Emyle ^[3] ; Derchain, Sophie ^[3]

Affiliation

^[1] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Med Sci, Postgrad Program Tocogynecol, BR-13083887 Campinas - Brazil

^[2] Multipat Anat Pathol Lab, BR-13086130 Campinas - Brazil

^[3] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Womens Hosp Prof Dr Jose Aristodemo Pinotti CAISM, Fac Med Sci, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, BR-13083970 Campinas - Brazil

^[4] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Med Sci, Lab Invest Pathol, CIPED, BR-13083887 Campinas - Brazil

^[5] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Fac Med Sci, Lab Mol & Invest Pathol LAPE, BR-13083970 Campinas - Brazil

^[6] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Womans Hosp Prof Dr Jose Aristodemo Pinotti CAISM, Fac Med Sci, Dept Oncol, BR-13083970 Campinas - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 11, n. 1 NOV 18 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Herein it was evaluated the impact of PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression and stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (sTIL) counts in pretreatment needle core biopsy on response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for patients with breast carcinomas (BC). In 127 paired pre- and post-NACT BC specimens, immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 was evaluated in stroma and in neoplastic cells. In the same samples sTILs were semi-quantified in tumor stroma. Post-NACT specimens were histologically rated as having residual cancer burden (RCB of any degree), or with complete pathological response (pCR). PD-L1 expression and higher sTIL counts were associated with histological grade 3 BC. PD-L1 expression was also associated with the non-luminal-HER2+ and triple negative immunohistochemical profiles of BC. Pathological complete response was associated with histological grade 3 tumors, and with the non-luminal-HER2+ and triple negative profiles. Additionally, our results support an association between PD-L1 expression and pCR to NACT. It was also observed that there is a trend to reduction of sTIL counts in the post-NACT specimens of patients with pCR. Of note, PD-L1 was expressed in half of the hormone receptor positive cases, a finding that might expand the potential use of immune checkpoint inhibitors for BC patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/07822-4 - Analysis Of Molecular Biomarkers Associated To Chemoresistance Derived From Breast Cancer Stem Cells
• Grantee: Sophie Françoise Mauricette Derchain
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants