Mp61-03 Programmed Death-Ligand (Pd-L1) Expression and Lymph Node Involvement in Penile Squamous Cell Carcinoma

You have accessJournal of UrologyPenile & Testicular Cancer II (MP61)1 May 2024MP61-03 PROGRAMMED DEATH-LIGAND (PD-L1) EXPRESSION AND LYMPH NODE INVOLVEMENT IN PENILE SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA Ines Peyroteo and Filipa Santos Ines PeyroteoInes Peyroteo and Filipa SantosFilipa Santos View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1097/01.JU.0001009536.58867.87.03AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail Abstract INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Penile squamous carcinoma (PSC) is a rare malignancy with a heterogeneous behaviour. Advanced stage or high-risk features are often associated with poor outcomes and severely limited therapeutic options. To tackle these limitations, better understanding PD-L1 expression in tumor and immune cells may help to improve adequate treatment strategies. Our objective was to investigate the association between PD-L1 immunoexpression as a combined positive score and clinical outcomes in PSC. METHODS: We reviewed all PSC diagnosed in our institution between 2018 and 2023. Clinicopathological features and outcomes where retrospectively collected. PD-L1 immunohistochemistry was performed as a qualitative assay using monoclonal mouse Anti-PD-L1, Clone 22C3 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE), penile carcinoma surgical specimens. Immunoexpression in both tumor and immune cells superior to 1 was considered positive. RESULTS: A total of 24 patients with PSC were included. Nine cases were HPV-associated. Nine cases were PD-L1 negative (score 0) and 15 were PDL-1 positive (score ≥1). Seven cases (27%) are PD-L1 positive and p16 positive, but this did not translate in worse clinicopathological features. Larger tumors (4.1 cm in PD-L1+ vs 3.9 cm in PD-L1−; p=0.940), vascular invasion (71.4% in PD-L1+ vs. 28.6% in PD-L1−; p=0.557) and perineural invasion (77.8% in PD-L1+ vs. 22.2% in PD-L1−; p=0.222) were associated with PD-L1 expression, but with no statistical significance. Among the high-risk features, only lymph node involvement had statistical significance, with 10 out of 15 PD-L1+ patients (66.7%) having lymph node metastases when lymphadenectomy was performed (p=0.031). With a median follow-up of 16 months (ranging from 1-60 months), PD-L1+ patients had worse overall survival (49.7 months vs 21.7 months), but due to the dimension of our cohort, no statistical significance can be inferred (p=0.249). CONCLUSIONS: PDL-1 immunoexpression in PSC appears to be associated with high-risk features and worse clinical outcomes. It is noteworthy the clinical significance of lymph node involvement in PD-L1+ cases and the considerable difference in the overall survival between the two groups. This is in line with the current literature, although we didn't find any studies with this string correlation with lymph node involvement. Further studies might help to define the clinical significance of PD-L1 expression in selecting appropriate treatment strategies for penile carcinomas. Source of Funding: None © 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 211Issue 5SMay 2024Page: e1010 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2024 by American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc.Metrics Author Information Ines Peyroteo More articles by this author Filipa Santos More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...