Prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in patients with anal cancer: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The present meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of PD-L1 in anal cancer (AC). Methods: Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs regarding overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated based on PD-L1 levels. Results: According to the combined data, PD-L1 showed no significant relationship with OS (HR = 0.76; 95% CI = 0.35–1.67; p = 0.502) or PFS (HR = 0.88; 95% CI = 0.35–2.33; p = 0.789) in patients with AC. Based on subgroup analysis, PD-L1 overexpression significantly predicted prolonged OS (HR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.17–0.84; p = 0.017) in tumor node metastasis stages I–III and inferior PFS (HR = 2.73; 95% CI = 1.32–5.65; p = 0.007) in patients with stage I–IV AC. Conclusion: PD-L1 level assessed by immunohistochemistry did not significantly predict survival outcomes in AC cases.

Summary points

• There are currently no established guidelines or indications for immunotherapy for localized anal cancer (AC).

• This study assessed the most recent literature and conducted a meta-analysis for identifying the accurate prognostic significance of PD-L1 in AC cases.

• The combined data showed the absence of obvious associations between PD-L1 and overall survival in AC cases.

• PD-L1 level showed no significant relationship to progression-free survival in AC.

• There was a significant correlation between PD-L1 overexpression and female sex among patients with AC.

• Sensitivity analysis revealed stability and reliability of results.

• Results revealed the absence of obvious bias in the present meta-analysis.

• The present meta-analysis is the first to explore the prognostic and clinicopathological significance of PD-L1 in patients with AC.

Keywords: :

• anal cancer
• clinical practice • meta-analysis
• PD-L1
• prognosis

Author contributions

S Gong conceived and designed the study, interpreted the data and drafted the manuscript. S Gong and J Song designed and revised the manuscript, selected the articles and retrieved the data. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Financial disclosure

The authors have no financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Competing interests disclosure

The authors have no competing interests or relevant affiliations with any organization or entity with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, stock ownership or options and expert testimony.

Writing disclosure

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.