High Expression of PD-L1 Is Associated with Better Survival in Pancreatic/Periampullary Cancers and Correlates with Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition

Periampullary cancers (PACs) are characterized by tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), severe fibrosis, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). The immune checkpoint marker programmed death-1 (PD-1) its ligands 1 2 have gained popularity in with TILs. Evidence suggests a strong relationship between markers EMT cancers. Here, we evaluated the expression prognostic significance of PAC using an automated image analyzer. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgically excised tissues from laboratory archives (1998–2014) were immunohistochemical staining for PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2 tissue microarray. In total, 115 patients (70 males 45 females) average age 63 years analyzed. Location, gross type, size, radial resection margin, N-M stage, lymphatic invasion, vascular perineural histologically well-differentiated inflammation, high PD-L1 significantly associated recurrence. Higher expression, but not PD-1 PD-L2, was related better overall survival (OS) disease-free (DFS). markers. Aside other clinicopathologic parameters, OS DFS patients. Moreover, Therefore, can be good guide future target-based therapies