PD-L1 Expression Predicts a Distinct Prognosis in Krukenberg Tumor with Corresponding Origins

Abstract EN

Krukenberg tumor (KT) is an uncommon ovarian metastatic signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma that mostly metastasizes from gastrointestinal carcinoma.

Optimal treatment options for KTs are limited.

Programmed death-1 (PD-1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors have shown remarkable activity in clinical trials for metastatic tumors.

Here, we evaluated PD-L1 expression and T cell infiltration in KTs and their corresponding primary tumors.

Positive tumor PD-L1 expression was detected in 9 (25.7%) KTs from gastric carcinomas (GCs) and in 20 (66.7%) KTs from colorectal carcinomas (CRCs).

Patient survival was assessed according to the PD-L1 status and CD8+ T cell density.

Positive tumor PD-L1 expression in KTs from GCs was associated with poor prognosis.

In contrast, positive tumor PD-L1 expression in KTs from CRCs was associated with an improved prognosis.

We analyzed copy number variations of the PD-L1 gene in KTs.

PD-L1 expression was higher in cases with copy number gains.

The T cell densities within KTs and their corresponding primary tumors were compared.

The densities of CD8+ T cells correlated significantly between the primary tumors and KTs from the same case.

Taken together, the research further highlighted targets for immune-based therapy in KTs from GCs and CRCs.