SynthesisJournal of gastrointestinal cancer2026
The Role of PD-L1 Expression as a Predictive Biomarker in Esophageal Cancer: a Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Journal of gastrointestinal cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Associations of PD-L1 expression status, tumor histology and patient ethnic background with immunotherapy outcomes in patients with advanced esophageal cancer.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026Pooled it
- Neoadjuvant nedaplatin and paclitaxel regimen with concurrent radiotherapy for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a single-arm phase II clinical trial.Future oncology (London, England) · 2026Trial
- For Advanced Oesophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, PD-1 Antibody Combined with Chemotherapy Improves Progression-Free Survival Compared with Monotherapy or Chemotherapy Alone as First-Line Treatment: A Retrospective Study with Prognostic Biomarker Analysis.Drug design, development and therapy · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundProgrammed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression has emerged as a potential predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response in esophageal cancer (EC). However, its clinical utility as a biomarker is influenced by variability in detection methods, scoring systems, and positivity thresholds, leading to inconsistent interpretations across studies. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the role of PD-L1 expression as a predictive biomarker in EC.
methodsA systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science up to November 6, 2024. Studies evaluating PD-L1 expression in EC and its correlation with survival outcomes were included. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random- or fixed-effects models. Study registration: Prospero ID ( CRD420251046175).
resultsThe meta-analysis included 31 studies (5,121 patients). The pooled analysis revealed a significant association between high PD-L1 expression and worse overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.11–3.17, P = 0.02). However, this result was accompanied by extreme heterogeneity (I² = 98%, P < 0.00001). For disease-free survival (DFS), a secondary analysis demonstrated a trend toward poorer outcomes with PD-L1 positivity (HR = 1.44, 95% CI: 0.97–2.14, P = 0.08), though statistical significance was not reached. Substantial heterogeneity was observed (I² = 82%).
conclusionThis analysis suggests an association between high PD-L1 expression and worse OS in EC. However, the extreme heterogeneity observed, likely stemming from variability in PD-L1 assessment methods and patient populations, indicates that this relationship is context-dependent and not universally generalizable. These findings highlight the urgent need for standardized evaluation protocols to establish PD-L1 as a reliable prognostic marker in clinical practice.
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Registered trials
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