Association between PD-L1 expression with <i>EGFR</i>, <i>ALK</i>, and <i>ROS1</i> driver oncogene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer


Onur D., YAYLIM İ., Buge O.

INDIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY, no.1, pp.36-41, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.4103/ijpm.ijpm_939_23
  • Journal Name: INDIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, CAB Abstracts, CINAHL, EMBASE, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.36-41
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: No

Abstract

Background: Driver mutations and immunological expressions have gained importance in recent years for targeted therapies and immunotherapies of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Aims: This study examined the association between PD-L1 expression and ALK, ROS1, and EGFR driver oncogene mutations in patients with NSCLC. Materials and Methods: A total of 501 NSCLC patients were included for analysis. Immunohistochemistry was performed with a PD-L1 clone 22c3. EGFR mutations were detected by PCR. ALK and ROS1 rearrangement analysis was performed with FISH. Results: There was a highly statistically significant difference between PD-L1 expression and EGFR mutation. PD-L1 expression was higher in the EGFR wild-type than in mutated EGFR (P = 0.0002). There was no relationship between PD-L1 expression and ALK and ROS1 mutations (P = 0.8899, P = 0.2512, respectively). PD-L1 expression was higher in nonadenocarcinomas (non-AC) than in adenocarcinomas (AC) (P = 0.0438). The ALK rearrangement and EGFR mutations were higher in ACs (P = 0.0073, P = 0.0012, respectively). ALK, ROS1 rearrangements, and EGFR mutations were higher in nonsmokers (P < 0.05). EGFR mutations were detected more frequently in females than males (P = 0.001). There was no relationship between gender and ALK, ROS1, and PD-L1 (P > 0.05). The prevalence of EGFR, ALK, and ROS1 driver mutations in the Turkish population was 9.3%, 5.3%, and 2.4%, respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, PD-L1 expression and mutated EGFR status have a highly negative association. PD-L1 expression was higher in EGFR wild-type patients. Therefore, it shows that the opportunity to receive PD-L1-related treatment may be higher in these patients. We think that PD-L1 immunohistochemical evaluation will increase the clinical predictive importance in EGFR wild-type cases.