%0 Journal Article
%A Moratin, Julius
%A Metzger, Karl
%A Safaltin, Ayse
%A Herpel, Esther
%A Hoffmann, Jürgen
%A Freier, Kolja
%A Hess, Jochen
%A Horn, Dominik
%T Upregulation of PD-L1 and PD-L2 in neck node metastases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
%J Head & neck
%V 41
%N 8
%@ 1043-3074
%C New York, NY [u.a.]
%I Wiley Interscience
%M DKFZ-2019-01071
%P 2484-2491
%D 2019
%X This study aimed on evaluating the expression levels of the immune checkpoint proteins, PD-L1 and PD-L2, in tissue specimens of 175 oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) and 33 corresponding lymph node metastases (LNM).Tissue microarrays of primary OSCC and matched LNM were investigated via immunohistochemistry regarding PD-L1/PD-L2 expression. Results were compared for primary tumors and corresponding metastases and correlated with clinicopathological data.PD-L1 expression in cancer cells correlated significantly with tumor size, and the presence of regional metastases (P < 0.01). PD-L1 expression was significantly higher in metastases as compared to primary OSCC (P < 0.05). Overall survival was significantly worse in patients with higher levels of PD-L1 and PD-L2 score (P < 0.05).This is the first publication to compare PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression in primary OSCC and matched LNM. The results indicate that anti-PD-1 therapy may be of therapeutic use even in early stage OSCC to prevent further progression.
%F PUB:(DE-HGF)16
%9 Journal Article
%$ pmid:30821864
%R 10.1002/hed.25713
%U https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/143483