Association of PD-L1 Expression on Tumor and Immune Cells with Survival in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Assay Validation.

Unlabelled: Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), expressed on both tumor cells (TC) and tumor-associated immune cells (IC), has been shown to be a useful biomarker and predictive of response to anti-PD-L1 agents in certain tumor types. In recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC), there is a growing interest in the role of PD-L1 expression on ICs, as well as TCs, for predicting response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. Using pooled data from the phase II HAWK and CONDOR studies, we investigated the association of baseline PD-L1 expression with durvalumab efficacy in patients with R/M HNSCC.

Analytical Validation and Clinical Utility of an Immunohistochemical Programmed Death Ligand-1 Diagnostic Assay and Combined Tumor and Immune Cell Scoring Algorithm for Durvalumab in Urothelial Carcinoma.

Context.—: Clinical responses to anti-programmed death receptor-1 and anti-programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) agents are generally improved in patients with high PD-L1 expression compared with those with low/negative expression across several tumor types, including urothelial carcinoma.

Objective.

Development of a programmed cell death ligand-1 immunohistochemical assay validated for analysis of non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: A high-quality programmed cell-death ligand 1 (PD-L1) diagnostic assay may help predict which patients are more likely to respond to anti-programmed cell death-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 antibody-based cancer therapy. Here we describe a PD-L1 immunohistochemical (IHC) staining protocol developed by Ventana Medical Systems Inc. and key analytical parameters of its use in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Gene expression predicts overall survival in paraffin-embedded tissues of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP.

Gene expression profiling (GEP) on frozen tissues has identified genes predicting outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Confirmation of results in current patients is limited by availability of frozen samples and addition of monoclonal antibodies to treatment regimens. We used a quantitative nuclease protection assay (qNPA) to analyze formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue blocks for 36 previously identified genes (N = 209, 93 chemotherapy; 116 rituximab + chemotherapy).

Quantitative nuclease protection assay in paraffin-embedded tissue replicates prognostic microarray gene expression in diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma.

Gene expression profiling (GEP) has identified genes whose expression levels predict patient survival in diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Such discovery techniques generally require frozen samples unavailable for most patients. We developed a quantitative nuclease protection assay to measure expression levels of prognostic DLBCL genes using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue.