PD-L1 expression in testicular germ cell tumors undergoing spontaneous regression

Authors

  • Ivan Novak School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6481-288X
  • Miroslav Tomić Department of Urology, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Denis Mulabdić Emergency Medicine, General Hospital Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9974-838X
  • Ivan Pezelj Department of Urology, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Slaven Čiček Department of Surgery, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Igor Tomašković Department of Urology, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
  • Nino Sinčić Department of Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Božo Krušlin Clinical Department of Pathology and Cytology Ljudevit Jurak, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
  • Monika Ulamec Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Clinical Department of Pathology and Cytology Ljudevit Jurak, University Hospital Centre Sisters of Charity, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4843-8154

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17305/bb.2024.10745

Keywords:

Germ cell tumor, testis, spontaneous tumor regression, PD-L1, lymphocyte, biomarkerimmunotherapy

Abstract

Spontaneous regression of testicular germ cell tumors is a well-known phenomenon; however, the precise mechanisms of spontaneous regression are still unknown. Our study aimed to investigate programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in spontaneously regressed testicular germ cell tumors, exploring the link between the immune response and spontaneous regression. From a sample of 356 testicular germ cell tumors, we singled out 5 completely regressed and 6 partially regressed tumors. In four out of six cases with partial regression, a residual seminoma component was found, while in the remaining two cases, an embryonal carcinoma component was found. Comparisons were made with 20 pure seminomas and 20 mixed germ cell tumors (MGCTs). A semiquantitative immunohistochemical analysis of PD-L1 expression in tumor cells and intra/peritumoral lymphocytes was performed. There was no PD-L1 expression in tumors with complete regression. All partially regressed tumors showed expression in intra/peritumoral lymphocytes within the tumor remnants. Expression was significantly more frequent in pure seminomas compared to MGCTs (P = 0.004). A positive correlation was demonstrated between the seminoma component and the proportion of PD-L1 positive lymphocytes, with a Kendall's Tau-b coefficient of 0.626 (P < 0.001). Tumor cells showed PD-L1 expression in three MGCTs within the embryonal carcinoma component. Our results support an immunological mechanism of spontaneous tumor regression, with the strongest potential in testicular tumors containing seminoma components. However, further research is necessary to determine the role of PD-L1 ligand more precisely in the microenvironment of spontaneously regressed tumors.

Citations

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
PD-L1 expression in testicular germ cell tumors undergoing spontaneous regression

Downloads

Published

17-10-2024

Issue

Section

Research article

Categories

How to Cite

1.
PD-L1 expression in testicular germ cell tumors undergoing spontaneous regression. Biomol Biomed [Internet]. 2024 Oct. 17 [cited 2024 Dec. 11];24(6):1751–1760. Available from: https://bjbms.org/ojs/index.php/bjbms/article/view/10745