Programmed Cell Death Ligand-1 (PDL-1) Correlates With Tumor Infiltration by Immune Cells and Represents a Promising Target for Immunotherapy in Endometrial Cancer.

Background/aim: Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common gynecological cancers in the Western Hemisphere. Nevertheless, there are not enough appropriate treatment options, especially for advanced stages. The immune checkpoint blockade represents a promising alternative to established cancer therapies by suppressing the immune-inhibitory activity of the immune checkpoint factors programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1).

Tumoral PD-L1 expression defines a subgroup of poor-prognosis vulvar carcinomas with non-viral etiology.

Vulvar cancer is rare but incidence rates are increasing due to an aging population and higher frequencies of young women being affected. In locally advanced, metastatic or recurrent disease prognosis is poor and new treatment modalities are needed. Immune checkpoint blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway is one of the most important advancements in cancer therapy in the last years.