Programmed Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Protein Expression Among Patients with Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma from Two Oncologic Institutions in Brazil
Author(s)
Heliton Antunes, PhD1, Lísia Alves, MsC1, Ana Carolina Menezes, MsC1, Ana Dias, MsC1, Isabele Small, PhD1, Daniel Goldemberg, PhD1, Cecília da Silva, PhD1, Luiz Henrique de Lima Araujo, PhD1, Andreia Melo, PhD1, Ulisses Nicolau, PhD1, Felipe Costa, PhD2, Clóvis Pinto, PhD2, Sabrina Bomfim, BSc2, Cicera P. Marcelino, MsC3, Paula de Mendonça Batista, BSc3, Maria Aparecida Rego, PhD3, heloisa arantes, MsC3, Thiago Oliveira, PhD2.
1Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil, 3MSD Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil.
1Brazilian National Cancer Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2AC Camargo Cancer Center, São Paulo, Brazil, 3MSD Brazil, São Paulo, Brazil.
OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of local publications regarding PD-L1 expression in the recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) population in public and private institutions in Brazil. Therefore, studies are needed to investigate this biomarker considering treatment options with immune checkpoint inhibitors that have shown efficacy and safety in HNSCC, either as monotherapy or in combination with other drugs. This study aimed to investigate PD-L1 expression in tissue samples collected prior to first-line treatment for R/M HNSCC.
METHODS: From January 2019 to May 2024, 184 HNSCC patients ≥ 18 years old, were enrolled in a retrospective, observational study carried out in a public and a private institution in Brazil. PD-L1 expression was measured by CPS using IHC PD-L1 22C3 pharmDx assay (Agilent Technologies, CA, USA).
RESULTS: Of the 174 eligible participants, 68 (39.1%) were from private and 106 (60,9%) from the public institution. The analyses identified that 68 (39.1%) had PD-L1 CPS≥20, 75 (43.1%) had PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 and ≤ 19 and 31 (17.8%) had PD-L1 CPS < 1, in recurrent/metastatic tumors. Oral cavity was the most frequent primary location (48.3%). A total of 54 patients (31.0%) had metastasis, most frequently in lung and lymph nodes.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant rate of PD-L1 expression (CPS≥ 1) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, underscoring the potential for targeted immunotherapies in this patient population. These findings contribute with valuable local data that may assist clinical decision-making in the HNSCC R/M setting.
METHODS: From January 2019 to May 2024, 184 HNSCC patients ≥ 18 years old, were enrolled in a retrospective, observational study carried out in a public and a private institution in Brazil. PD-L1 expression was measured by CPS using IHC PD-L1 22C3 pharmDx assay (Agilent Technologies, CA, USA).
RESULTS: Of the 174 eligible participants, 68 (39.1%) were from private and 106 (60,9%) from the public institution. The analyses identified that 68 (39.1%) had PD-L1 CPS≥20, 75 (43.1%) had PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 and ≤ 19 and 31 (17.8%) had PD-L1 CPS < 1, in recurrent/metastatic tumors. Oral cavity was the most frequent primary location (48.3%). A total of 54 patients (31.0%) had metastasis, most frequently in lung and lymph nodes.
CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the significant rate of PD-L1 expression (CPS≥ 1) in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, underscoring the potential for targeted immunotherapies in this patient population. These findings contribute with valuable local data that may assist clinical decision-making in the HNSCC R/M setting.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2025-05, ISPOR 2025, Montréal, Quebec, CA
Value in Health, Volume 28, Issue S1
Code
RWD93
Topic
Real World Data & Information Systems
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas, SDC: Oncology