The expression and clinical significance of PD-L1 ⁺ CD68 ⁺ macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of non-small cell lung cancer

Purpose: To explore the roles of PD-L1 + (programmed death-1-ligand 1) CD68 + macrophages in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by flow cytometry (FCM). Materials and methods: 60 squamous cell carcinoma patients, 60 adenocarcinoma patients and 60 healthy controls were recruited in the study. PD-L1 + CD68 + macrophages were isolated from PBMCs of the 180 persons with FCM. Results: Squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma group had higher PD-L1 + CD68 + macrophages expression compared to healthy controls ( P <0.001 and P =0.013 respectively), and PD-L1 + CD68 + macrophages from squamous cell carcinoma were higher than that from adenocarcinoma group [(19.03±12.28)% vs (14.21±11.88)%, P = 0.031)]. Conclusions: PD-L1 + CD68 + macrophages in PBMCs have marked relationship with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, especially can produce profound effect on squamous cell carcinoma.