Title:PD-L1 Testing for Urothelial Carcinoma: Interchangeability, Reliability and Future Perspectives
VOLUME: 22 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Thomas Gevaert*, Alessia Cimadamore, Rodolfo Montironi and Markus Eckstein
Affiliation:Department of Urology, UZ Leuven, Leuven, Section of Pathological Anatomy, Marche Polytechnic University, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Section of Pathological Anatomy, Marche Polytechnic University, School of Medicine, United Hospitals, Ancona, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander- Universitat Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen 91052
Keywords:PD-L1, immunohistochemistry, urothelial carcinoma, biomarker, interchangeability, immunotherapy.
Abstract:Five programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors are currently approved
for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma of the bladder and the
upper urinary tract. Following the FDA and EMA restrictions of first-line treatment with Atezolizumab
and Pembrolizumab in platinum-ineligible patients, immunohistochemical PD-L1 testing is now required.
Several emerging issues on antibodies, test platforms and scoring algorithms have raised concerns
about the comparability and interchangeability between these assays. In this review, we have focused
on the interchangeability of the used algorithms and assays for PD-L1 testing in urothelial carcinoma,
on the predictive reliability of PD-L1 testing in urothelial carcinoma and the potential of other
new and upcoming biomarkers.
