Radiological Features of Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 2-positive Lung Adenocarcinoma: A Single-institution Retrospective Study.

AIM: Programmed cell death-ligand 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and PD-L2) are ligands of the programmed cell death-1 (PD1) receptor. PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors have shown clinical efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, relatively little is known about the expression of PD-L2, or its association with the clinicopathological features of NSCLC. Here, the radiological features of PD-L2-positive lung adenocarcinoma were evaluated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression were evaluated by immunohistochemical staining of surgically-resected specimens from 393 patients with primary lung adenocarcinoma who underwent preoperative thin-section computed tomography (CT), 222 of whom also underwent 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography/CT (18 F-FDG-PET/CT).

RESULTS: Among the 393 specimens, 132 (33.6%) and 266 (67.7%) were positive for PD-L1 and PD-L2 expression, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the absence of surrounding ground glass opacity and the presence of air bronchogram were significantly associated with PD-L2 expression; however, there was no significant association between PD-L2 expression and the consolidation/tumor ratio. In 222 18 F-FDG-PET/CT, the maximum standardized uptake value was significantly higher in patients with PD-L2-positive compared to those with PD-L2-negative tumors.

CONCLUSION: PD-L2-positive lung adenocarcinomas are less radiologically malignant and invasive than their PD-L1-positive counterparts.