Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41272706›Full record

ArticleDiagnostic pathology2025

Prognostic value of manual and digital PD-L1 expression in pT3 and pT4 colon cancer.

Dea Natalie Munch Jepsen, Marianne Bøgevang Jensen, Astrid Louise Bjørn Bennedsen, Trine Lønbo Grantzau, Thomas Thiilmark Eriksen, Jens Ole Eriksen, Michael Bzorek, Ismail Gögenur, Anne-Marie Kanstrup Fiehn

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Diagnostic pathology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Dea Natalie Munch JepsenDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7561-6350
Marianne Bøgevang JensenDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.
Astrid Louise Bjørn BennedsenCenter for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4485-0985
Trine Lønbo GrantzauDepartment of Pathology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5407-2948
Thomas Thiilmark EriksenVisiopharm A/S, Hoersholm, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0445-6190
Jens Ole EriksenDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8846-5018
Michael BzorekDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9493-5856
Ismail GögenurCenter for Surgical Science, Department of Surgery, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3753-268X
Anne-Marie Kanstrup FiehnDepartment of Pathology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark. ankf@regionsjaelland.dk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1741-1140

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundProgrammed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a prognostic marker in several malignancies, but the prognostic value of PD-L1 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) is inconclusive. Lack of standardized scoring systems for PD-L1 evaluation in CRC has led to inconsistent findings. This exploratory study aimed to evaluate PD-L1 expression using manual and digital methods and correlate the results to overall survival (OS) in a cohort of patients with pT3 and pT4 colon cancer (CC).

methodsFrom a previously published study, 162 patients with pT3 and pT4 CC were included. One tumor slide representing the invasive margin was selected and stained for PD-L1 (22C3). PD-L1 was evaluated according to the tumor proportion score (TPS), the immune cell score (ICS), and the combined positive score (CPS). Additionally, a digital algorithm for detecting PD-L1 positive cells was developed. The manual and digital PD-L1 expression scores were correlated to OS in the entire cohort, and in subgroups according to mismatch repair (MMR) status.

resultsOnly 1 case was classified with a TPS of ≥ 1%. The ICS was classified as < 1%, 1-9%, and ≥ 10% in 66%, 30.2% and 3.7% of the tumors, respectively. The CPS was classified as < 1, 1-9, and ≥ 10 in 82.7%, 15.4%, and 1.9% of the tumors, respectively. A high digital PD-L1 expression score was an independent prognostic factor for longer OS, adjusted for age, pT-category and adjuvant chemotherapy (aHR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19-0.86, p = 0.018). In the pMMR subgroup, both a CPS ≥ 1 and a high digital score were significantly associated with longer OS in the multivariate analyses (aHR = 0.24, 95% CI = 0.06-0.99, p = 0.049, and aHR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.12-0.97, p = 0.043, respectively).

conclusionsOur results suggest that high PD-L1 expression is associated with longer OS. In future studies examining PD-L1 expression as a prognostic biomarker in CC, assessing PD-L1 expression using a digital approach or the CPS can be recommended.

Indexed as

B7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorColonic NeoplasmsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansImmunohistochemistryMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasm StagingPrognosisB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCD274 protein, humanAdenocarcinomaColonic neoplasmsHistopathologyImmunohistochemistryPrognosis

Identifiers

PMID41272706
PMCPMC12754915

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.