| Popis: |
Background In breast cancer, circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are associated with a poor prognosis, but research concerning programmed cell death protein 1 ligand (PD-L1) on CTCs in breast cancer is limited. This study investigated an association between PD-L1 on CTCs, tumor cells (TCs), or tumor infiltrating immune cells (TIICs), respectively, and prognosis and clinicopathological features in breast cancer. Methods Twenty patients with breast cancer were recruited; one was excluded for confirmed lymphoma. The PD-L1 on TCs and TIICs was determined via immunohistochemistry (IHC); PD-L1 mRNA expression on CTCs was analyzed. The chi-squared test was used to determine associations between clinicopathological features and PD-L1 on TCs, TIICs, and CTCs. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model analyses were applied to compare the survival of patients and related factors. Results The follow-up time was 48 months. Of the 19 patients, 14 had > 1 CTC/10 mL peripheral blood. Among these, each had ≥ 1 CTC showing PD-L1. There was no association between the presence of PD-L1 on TCs, TIICs, and CTCs and pathology, nor between PD-L1 on TCs and TIICs and survival. Patients with high PD-L1 levels on CTCs or higher T status had poor overall survival (P = 0.034 and 0.003, respectively); and these were prognostic factors (P = 0.029, 0.010). Conclusion High levels of PD-L1 on CTCs may be a prognostic factor for shorter survival in breast cancer. |
