Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas of the digestive system: a potential target for anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapy

Poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the digestive system has a dismal prognosis with limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate expression of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in these tumors. Thirty-seven patients with a poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma of the digestive system were identified. Their electronic medical records, pathology reports and pathology slides were reviewed for demographics, clinical history and pathologic features. Tumor sections were immunohistochemically labeled for PD-1 and PD-L1 and expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 on tumor and tumor-associated immune cells was analyzed and compared between small cell and large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas.

http://ift.tt/2hFaB2k