Home Neoplasma 2016 Neoplasma Vol.63, No.5, p.768-773,2016

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Founded: 1954
ISSN 0028-2685
ISSN 1338-4317 (online)

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Neoplasma Vol.63, No.5, p.768-773,2016

Title: Immune checkpoints in aggressive breast cancer subtypes
Author: I. ZAWLIK, N. GABLO, B. SZYMANSKA, Z. PAWLOWSKA, C. CHUDOBINSKI, J. CHALUBINSKA-FENDLER, Z. MORAWIEC, H. ZIELINSKA-BLIZNIEWSKA, A. MORAWIEC-SZTANDERA, A. KOLACINSKA

Abstract: Immune checkpoints are molecules referred to inhibitory pathways in the immune system that play a pivotal role in prevention of autoimmunity and oncogenesis. The aim of the study was to evaluate expression levels of selected immune checkpoints- PD-1 (programmed cell death protein 1), and PD-L1 (programmed cell death 1 ligand 1) in breast cancer patients, suitable for breast conservation and sentinel node biopsy and determine their associations with clinicopathological factors.
Expression of the genes coding for PD-1 and PD-L1 was analyzed in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens using real-time PCR. mRNA expression levels were determined using beta actin (ACTB) as an endogenous control. There was a trend towards significance between higher PD-1 and PD-L1 levels in triple negative breast cancers (p=0.1). Higher PD-L1 expression was also found in aggressive breast cancer subtypes e.g. triple negative and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) -positive as compared with subtypes with better prognosis such as luminal A and luminal BHER2-negative (p=0.05). There was a trend towards significance in higher PD-1 levels in triple negative and HER-2 positive breast cancers (p=0.1). A statistically significant difference was found between PD-L1 expression and tumor grade (p=0.01). Elevated PD-L1 levels were noted in G3 tumors.
Immunogenicity appears to be gaining importance in triple negative and HER2-positive molecular subtypes of breast cancer, and the results in this study provide a basis for further investigation into the role of immune checkpoints in breast cancer.

Keywords: immune checkpoints, breast cancer, PD-1, PD-L1
Published online: 09-Sep-2016
Year: 2016, Volume: 63, Issue: 5 Page From: 768, Page To: 773
doi:10.4149/neo_2016_514


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