Prognostic value of programmed cell death ligand 1 expression in patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Frontiers in immunology Vol. 14; p. 1119168
• Main Authors: Xian, Feng, Ren, Dacheng, Bie, Jun, Xu, Guohui
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 17.04.2023
• Subjects: B7-H1 Antigen - metabolism; Bile Duct Neoplasms; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic - metabolism; Cholangiocarcinoma; Humans; Immunology; intrahepatic carcinoma; Ligands; meta-analysis; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Prognosis; prognostic value; programmed cell death 1 (PD-1); programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1); meta-analysis; intrahepatic carcinoma; prognostic value; programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1); programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)
• DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1119168
• ISSN: 1664-3224

Programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is highly expressed in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) tissues. But there is still a dispute over the prognostic value of PD-L1 in patients with ICC. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in patients with ICC. We performed a meta-analysis based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Guidelines. We searched the literature from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library up to December 5, 2022. Hazard ratios (HR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to analyze the overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and time to relapse. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's test. Ten trials with 1944 cases were included in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the low-PD-L1 group had a statistically significant advantage in OS (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.38-1.79, P <0.00001), RFS (HR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.34-1.97, P <0.00001), and time to relapse (HR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.25-2.05, P = 0.0002) compared with the high-PD-L1 group. High programmed cell death (PD1)levels, on the other hand, were correlated with poorer OS (HR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.43-2.70; P <0.0001) and RFS (HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.21-2.91; P = 0.005). Multivariate analysis showed that PD-L1 could act as an independent predictor for OS (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14-1.91; P = 0.003) and RFS (HR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.22-2.47; P = 0.002), and PD1 acted as an independent predictor for OS (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.15-2.38; P = 0.006). This meta-analysis demonstrated that high PD-L1/PD1 expression is associated with poor survival in ICC. PD-L1/PD1 may be a valuable prognostic and predictive biomarker and potential therapeutic target in ICC. https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022380093.