Prognostic Role of Programmed Death Ligand-1 on Tumor-Infiltrating Immune Cells in “High-Risk” Patients Following Radical Cystectomy: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the prognostic role of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in patients after radical cystectomy (RC) for bladder cancer (BCa).

Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 92 “high-risk” (≥pT3a and/or pN+) patients who underwent RC for BCa, without adjuvant chemotherapy (AC), between April 2014 and December 2019. PD-L1 on TIICs was measured only using the VENTANA (SP-142) immunohistochemistry assay. Patients were categorized into three groups based to the percentage of the tumor area covered by PD-L1 on TIICs: IC0 (<1%), IC1 (≥1% and <5%), and IC2/3 (≥5%). Positive PD-L1 was defined as IC2/3 (≥5%). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to illustrate recurrence-free survival (RFS), and Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify predictive factors of tumor recurrence.

Results: Within the cohort, the proportions of PD-L1 IC0, IC1, and IC2/3 were 21.7%, 23.9%, and 54.4%, respectively. At follow-up (mean 31.3 months), tumor recurrence was identified in 49 patients (53.3%). Using multivariable analysis, tumor stage (pT4; P=0.005), positive lymph nodes (P=0.021), and positive PD-L1 on TIICs (P=0.010) were independent predictors of tumor recurrence. The 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 67.7% and 64.2% in negative PD-L1 on TIICs, while 27.8% and 22.3% in positive PD-L1 on TIICs, respectively.

Conclusions: Positive PD-L1 on TIICs was significantly associated with poorer RFS in “high-risk” patients after RC without AC. Our results support the use of adjuvant immunotherapy in “high-risk” patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs after RC.

Introduction

Currently, the guidelines of European Association of Urology (EAU) on muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) recommend cisplatin-based combination adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) after radical cystectomy (RC) in high-risk patients (≥pT3a and/or pN+) if they did not receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) (1). However, approximately half of patients with advanced bladder cancer (BCa) are not cisplatin-eligible because of comorbidities such as creatinine clearance < 60 mL/min, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥ 2, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 3 heart failure, and grade ≥ 2 neuropathy (2–4). In addition, about a third of patients only experience adverse events related to AC without treatment benefits (5). For this reason, a novel strategy using immune checkpoint inhibitors is emerging as a promising therapeutic approach because of their relatively lower toxicities compared to chemotherapy (6, 7).

To date, because of its relatively high tumor mutational burden, BCa is regarded as an immunogenic tumor (8, 9). Blocking of programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) interaction has revealed positive results in BCa by restoring T cell-mediated immune responses (10, 11). As a result, three phase III trials are ongoing to identify the efficacy of atezolizumab (IMvigor010 or NCT0245033) (12), nivolumab (CheckMate274 or NCT02632409) (13) and pembrolizumab (AMBASSADOR or NCT03244384) (14) in the adjuvant setting following RC. However, there are few studies on predictive biomarkers that can be used to choose patients suitable for adjuvant immunotherapy.

Therefore, in this study, we examined PD-L1 on tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in RC specimens to investigate the prognostic role of PD-L1 on TIICs as a predictive biomarker by analyzing the correlation with tumor recurrence in “high-risk” patients after RC.

Materials and Methods

Patients’ Selection

This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital (IRB No. 2019-02-004) and performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent of patients was waived owing to the study design, but all patient data complied with relevant privacy regulations and data protection

We retrospectively examined a prospectively collected database of 560 patients who underwent RC for BCa between April 2014 and December 2019 by a single urologic surgeon. From the cohort, we excluded patients who were diagnosed with pT0-2N0 BCa following RC (n = 173) and who received NAC and/or radiation therapy or intravesical Bacillus Calmette- Guérin (BCG) instillation (n = 65). In addition, patients who had variant histology (n = 11) and those who received AC after RC (n = 219) were also excluded. Finally, 92 “high-risk” (≥pT3a and/or pN+) patients after RC without AC were selected for this study (Figure 1). All patients were preoperatively staged as cM0.

FIGURE 1

Figure 1 Flow chart of patient selection. BCa, bladder cancer; BCG, Bacillus Calmette- Guérin; AC, adjuvant chemotherapy; NAC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Data Collection

Clinical and pathological characteristics of patients, including age at surgery, sex, pathologic T and N category, presence of carcinoma in situ (CIS), lymphovascular invasion (LVI), number of resected lymph nodes (LNs), status of surgical margin, and type of urinary diversion were identified from medical records.

Tumor recurrence was defined as local recurrence at the surgical bed or regional LNs, and/or distant metastasis. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was calculated from the date of RC to the date of the first stated recurrence or the last follow-up date on which the patient was without tumor recurrence.

Histologic Assessment

All RCs were conducted as open techniques and, in general, included removal of the prostate and seminal vesicle in men and removal of the ovaries and uterus in women. All patients received standard bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (15).

RC specimens were processed in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections. All specimens were reviewed by a pathologist specialized in genitourinary cancer. Pathologic staging and tumor grading were categorized according to the 2010 TNM classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) and the 2004 World Health Organization (WHO)/International Society of Urologic Pathology consensus classification.

Immunohistochemistry (IHC) Assay

PD-L1 on TIICs was measured using the VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) rabbit monoclonal primary antibody (Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, USA) with a fully automated IHC assay on the BenchMark ULTRA (Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, USA) staining platform according to manufacturer protocols. The assay was optimized for the detection of PD-L1 in urothelial carcinoma, for which TIICs are predictive. The VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) stain highlights a heterogeneous population of immune cells including lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells, and granulocytes. In our study, most immune cells are blood-origin lymphocytes, and some granulocytes have been identified.

Briefly, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections were cut in widths of 1.5 μm. After deparaffinization, antigen retrieval was performed using cell conditioning reagent 1 (Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, USA). After primary antibody incubation at 37°C for 32 minutes, the Ultra View DAB Detection Kit (Ventana Medical Systems, Tucson, USA) was used for visualization. The slides were washed in distilled water, counterstained with hematoxylin (12 minutes) and bluing reagent (4 minutes), dehydrated in a descending order of alcohols, cleared in xylene, and coverslipped with Tissue-Tek mounting medium (Sakura Finetek Japan, Tokyo, Japan).

Quantification of PD-L1 Expression in TIIC

The evaluating pathologist was blinded to the clinicopathological and recurrence data of the patients. Patients were divided into three groups according to the percentage (%) of the tumor area covered by PD-L1 on TIICs: IC0 (<1%), IC1 (≥1% and <5%), and IC2/3 (≥5%). In addition, using a 5% cutoff value, PD-L1 was dichotomized as negative (<5%) or positive (≥5%) for statistical analysis. Representative images of PD-L1 on TIICs are depicted in Figure 2.

FIGURE 2

Figure 2 Representative images of PD-L1 on TIICs using the VENTANA (SP-142) immunohistochemistry assay in “high-risk” patients with bladder cancer. (A) IC0 (< 1% of tumor area covered by PD-L1 on TIICs), (B) IC1 (≥ 1% and <5% of tumor area covered by PD-L1 on TIICs), (C, D) IC2/3 (≥ 5% of tumor area covered by PD-L1 on TIICs). All images are ×200 magnification (scale bar 100 μm). PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1; TIIC, tumor-infiltrating immune cell.

Follow-Up Protocol

Each patient was followed up according to recommendations and institutional protocols. Following RC patients were generally scheduled at one month postoperatively, then every three months for the first two years, every six months for the next three years, and annually thereafter. During the follow-up period, a physical examination with laboratory tests, urine analysis with cytology, chest x-ray, and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis were performed at every visit to identify tumor recurrence. Bone scintigraphy was performed when clinically indicated.

Statistical Analysis

Descriptive statistics were obtained for demographic variables. Continuous variables are presented as median (range) or mean (standard deviation, SD), and categorical variables are expressed as absolute values (percentages). An independent t-test was used to compare quantitative variables, and Pearson’s chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test, or linear-by-linear association were used to compare categorical clinicopathologic characteristics. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to illustrate RFS, and differences were assessed using the log-rank test. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify predictive factors associated with tumor recurrence. All statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 23.0 (IBM Corp. Armonk, NY, USA). Two-tailed P-values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Patient Characteristics

The baseline clinicopathological characteristics of the 92 “high-risk” patients who underwent RC for BCa without AC are outlined in Table 1. Within the cohort, the median (range) age at RC was 72.0 (61.0 - 82.0) years, and the male to female ratio was 4.4:1. Pathological tumor category T3 was identified in 72 patients (78.3%) at the time of RC. The median (range) resected number of LNs was 24.5 (8.0 - 42.0), and LN involvement was demonstrated in 44 patients (47.8%). The proportions of PD-L1 IC0, IC1, and IC2/3 on TIICs was 21.7%, 23.9%, and 54.4%, respectively. When patients were divided according to tumor recurrence (Yes vs. No), pathologic T and N categories and PD-L1 on TIICs were significantly different (all P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in age at surgery, sex, concomitant CIS, LVI, number of resected LNs, surgical margin status, and type of urinary diversion between the two groups.

TABLE 1

Table 1 Clinicopathologic characteristics of 92 “high-risk” patients following radical cystectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Association of Clinic-Pathological Characteristics With PD-L1 Expression

The associations between clinicopathological characteristics and PD-L1 on TIICs are presented in Table 2. In patients with positive LNs the proportions of PD-L1 IC0, IC1, and IC2/3 on TIICs was 15.9%, 13.6%, and 70.5%, respectively, and the rates were significantly different from those in patients with negative LNs (P = 0.011). However, there was no association between PD-L1 on TIICs and any remaining clinicopathological characteristics, including age, sex, tumor stage, concomitant CIS, LVI, surgical margin status, and type of urinary diversion.

TABLE 2

Table 2 Association of programmed death-ligand 1 expression and clinicopathologic characteristics.

Association of PD-L1 Expression With RFS

At mean (SD) follow-up of 31.3 (12.5) months, tumor recurrence was identified in 49 patients (53.3%). The overall RFS rates estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method was presented in Figure 3. The 2- and 3-year overall RFS rates were 46.1% and 42.0%, respectively. However, when stratified according to PD-L1 on TIICs, RFS was significantly shorter in patients with IC2/3 than in patients with IC0 (P = 0.005) and those with IC1 (P = 0.022) (Figure 4A). Furthermore, when PD-L1 on TIICs was dichotomized using a 5% cutoff value, PD-L1 on TIICs significantly affected RFS (P = 0.001; Figure 4B) and using a 1% cutoff value, a significantly shorter RFS was also found in patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs (P = 0.024). The 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 67.7% and 64.2% in negative PD-L1 on TIICs. However, the 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 27.8% and 22.3% in positive PD-L1 on TIICs, respectively.

FIGURE 3

Figure 3 Kaplan–Meier survival curve for overall RFS. The 2- and 3-year overall RFS rates were 46.1% and 42.0%, respectively. RFS, recurrence-free survival.

FIGURE 4

Figure 4 Kaplan–Meier survival curves for RFS according to (A) PD-L1 expression score, and (B) PD-L1 positivity on TIICs. (A) RFS was significantly shorter in patients with IC2/3 than in patients with IC0 (P = 0.005) and those with IC1 (P = 0.022). The 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 70.7% and 70.7% in patients with PD-L1 IC0, 64.6% and 57.4% in patients with PD-L1 IC1, and 27.8% and 22.3% in patients with IC2/3, respectively. (B) RFS was significantly shorter in patients with PD-L1 positive than in patients with PD-L1 negative (P = 0.001). The 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 67.7% and 64.2% in patients with PD-L1 negative. However, the 2- and 3-year RFS rates were 27.8% and 22.3% in patients with PD-L1 positive, respectively. PD-L1, programmed death-ligand 1; RFS, recurrence-free survival; TIIC, tumor-infiltrating immune cell.

The results of the Cox proportional hazard regression analysis of prognostic factors of tumor recurrence after RC without AC are summarized in Table 3. Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that tumor category pT4 (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.278–2.3.896; P = 0.005), positive LNs (HR = 1.79; 95% CI: 1.083–3.232; P = 0.021), and positive PD-L1 on TIICs (HR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.186–3.461; P = 0.010) were significantly associated with an increased risk of tumor recurrence.

TABLE 3

Table 3 Cox proportional hazard regression analyses to predict tumor recurrence following radical cystectomy without adjuvant chemotherapy.

Discussion

In our study of 92 “high-risk” (≥pT3a and/or pN+) patients after RC without AC, tumor recurrence was confirmed in 49 patients (53.3%). When patients were stratified based on pathologic parameters, the RFS rate was significantly correlated with pathologic T and N categories and PD-L1 on TIICs. Positive PD-L1 on TIICs was closely associated with shorter RFS in patients with BCa after RC without AC. These results may help to establish treatment strategies for “high-risk” patients and advocate the use of adjuvant immunotherapy for “high-risk” patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study to evaluate the prognostic role of PD-L1 on TIICs in “high-risk” patients.

To date, the prognostic role of PD-L1 as a biomarker in BCa has been examined but showed inconsistent results owing to the use of different PD-L1 antibodies, location of PD-L1 measurement, and heterogeneous cutoff values to define positive PD-L1 expression (16–22). Therefore, to decrease the effect of heterogeneity between PD-L1 IHC assays, we only examined PD-L1 on TIICs that used the VENTANA assay with the SP 142 antibody. This assay was chosen because, in the past, atezolizumab was only reimbursed by the government for second-line treatment of metastatic BCa based on the result of VENTANA test. Furthermore, PD-L1 on TIICs was examined only in RC specimens derived from patients who had not received intravesical therapy and perioperative chemo-radiation therapy, which could have affected the outcomes (23, 24). In addition, we defined positive PD-L1 on TIICs based on a cutoff of 5%. As a result, positive PD-L1 on TIICs was detected in 54.4% (50/92) of patients.

In a study by Pichler et al. (16), 83 “high-risk” patients (≥pT3a and/or pN+ disease) who underwent RC without AC were included. In this study, positive PD-L1 on TIICs (defined as ≥1%) was identified in 61.4% (51/83) of patients, and the median RFS was significantly shorter in patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs than in those with negative PD-L1 on TIICs (P = 0.015). They hypothesized that “high-risk” patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs might be candidates for adjuvant immunotherapy following RC. In our study, 92 “high-risk” patients using the same inclusion criteria were analyzed and found that, using a 5% cutoff, PD-L1 on TIICs significantly affected RFS (P = 0.001). Furthermore, when a 1% PD-L1 cutoff was applied, a significantly shorter RFS was also found in patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs (P = 0.024). Collectively, these results support the need for adjuvant immunotherapy following RC in “high-risk” patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs.

In addition, we previously reported the prognostic role of PD-L1 on TIICs in patients treated with cisplatin-based AC following RC for patients with MIBC (25). In that study, 219 “high-risk” patients were included, and positive PD-L1 on TIICs (defined as ≥5%) was identified in 59.4% (130/219) of patients. We found that RFS was significantly poorer in patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs than in those with negative PD-L1 on TIICs (P = 0.003). Taken together, these results indicate that positive PD-L1 on TIICs may be used as a prognostic biomarker in “high-risk” patients following RC irrespective of AC for selection of adjuvant immunotherapy.

Therefore, phase III trials to identify the efficacy of adjuvant immunotherapy following RC are ongoing. In a phase III IMvigor010 trial, there was no significant difference in disease-free survival (DFS) between atezolizumab and observation in high-risk patients following RC (19.4 months vs. 16.6 months, HR = 0.89; P = 0.2446) (12). However, in a phase III CheckMate-274 trial, nivolumab was identified as the first immune therapy to be used in the adjuvant setting that provided a clinically meaningful improvement in DFS in high-risk patients following RC both in the entire cohort (HR = 0.70; P <0.001) and in patients with PD-L1 ≥1% (HR = 0.53; P <0.001) (13). We are awaiting the results of a phase III AMBASSADOR trial (adjuvant pembrolizumab vs. observation) (14), and these trials will hopefully provide guidance for further treatment strategies.

For further application of the novel biomarker in future research, it is important to integrate with other available clinical predictors. The Vesical Imaging-Reporting and Data System (VI-RADS) using multiparametric MRI has been demonstrated to effectively differentiate among non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), MIBC and extravesical BCa (≥pT3) preoperatively (26–29). In addition, the VI-RADS scoring system might stratify patients according to earlier prediction of tumor response to treatment (30). Furthermore, biomarkers from blood samples such as circulating tumor cells (CTCs), surviving expressing CTCs and absolute basophil count are available for risk stratification in patients with NMIBC to predict recurrence and progression (31–34). Liquid biopsy biomarkers in urine and systemic combined inflammatory score also have the potential for diagnosis, prognosis and monitoring of oncologic outcome after treatment (35, 36). Collectively, integration with these potential biomarkers offers a more comprehensive decision-making tool for individualized treatment and an opportunity for future research.

Despite its potential clinical implications, this study is not devoid of several limitations that should be considered when interpreting the results. First, the retrospective study design performed at a single institution may have introduced inherent selection bias. Nonetheless, this study analyzed a prospectively accrued database and reflected real-world clinical experience. Second, to avoid the heterogeneity of IHC diagnostic assays, we only used the VENTANA assay with the SP 142 antibody to examine PD-L1 on TIICs. However, as PD-L1 staining has not been standardized, discrepancies due to different staining platforms, antibody clones, and scoring algorithms should be considered in the interpretation. Finally, due to a relatively short follow-up period, the correlation between PD-L1 on TIICs and cancer-specific survival or overall survival was not evaluated. Therefore, confirmation via a large, prospective validation study is required to corroborate the findings reported here.

In conclusion, in “high-risk” patients with BCa, PD-L1 is widely expressed on TIICs. Positive PD-L1 on TIICs was significantly associated with LN positivity and poorer RFS following RC without AC. Our results support the need for adjuvant immunotherapy in “high-risk” patients with positive PD-L1 on TIICs. Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of PD-L1 on TIICs as a biomarker in “high-risk” patients with BCa.

Data Availability Statement

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

Ethics Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Institutional Review Board of Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Written informed consent for participation was not required for this study in accordance with the national legislation and the institutional requirements.

Author Contributions

WS and DHL contributed to conception and design of the study. DHL organized the database. WS performed the statistical analysis. CUL wrote the first draft of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Funding

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through a National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2018R1C1B6007678).

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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