The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Objective While PD-L1 expression serves as a predictive biomarker for programmed cell death 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitor efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its association with treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) has yet to be fully elucidated. Thi...

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Main Authors: Qian Zhu, Hao Hu, Li-Ying OuYang, Rong Yang, Wen-Xiao Wei, Pin Huang, Xin-Rong He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Cancer
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14218-5
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author Qian Zhu
Hao Hu
Li-Ying OuYang
Rong Yang
Wen-Xiao Wei
Pin Huang
Xin-Rong He
author_facet Qian Zhu
Hao Hu
Li-Ying OuYang
Rong Yang
Wen-Xiao Wei
Pin Huang
Xin-Rong He
author_sort Qian Zhu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Objective While PD-L1 expression serves as a predictive biomarker for programmed cell death 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitor efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its association with treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) has yet to be fully elucidated. This study systematically evaluated the correlation between PD-L1 expression status and TRAEs in patients with NSCLC. Methods We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases from inception to June 30, 2024, to identify prospective clinical trials examining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors among NSCLC patients that reported treatment-related toxicity data stratified by PD-L1 expression. Results Twenty-six prospective trials (N = 5,453) were analyzed. At the 1%, 25%, and 50% PD-L1 cutoffs, PD-L1-negative patients presented significantly reduced risks of grade 3–4 TRAEs (OR = 0.37, 0.53, 0.41; 95% CI = 0.18–0.77, 0.31–0.90, 0.19–0.97; P < 0.01, 0.02, 0.04). Similarly, PD-L1-negative patients had significantly reduced risks of AEs leading to treatment discontinuation at the 1% and 25% PD-L1 cutoffs (OR = 0.25, 0.38; 95% CI = 0.08–0.76, 0.16–0.89; P = 0.01, 0.03) but not at the 50% PD-L1 cutoff (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.07–1.12, P = 0.07). Subgroup analyses revealed elevated all-grade TRAEs with the 22C3 immunohistochemistry assay (P < 0.001), whereas first-line therapy recipients (P = 0.006) and open-label trial participants (P = 0.002) presented increased grade 3–4 TRAEs. Conclusions PD-L1 positivity may predict increased risks of grade 3–4 TRAEs and AEs leading to treatment discontinuation in NSCLC patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Furthermore, PD-L1 expression might be a useful biomarker for toxicity management in patients with NSCLC after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-cb28a5cfdcce48c19af2812e6cb52e832025-08-20T02:10:50ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072025-04-0125111310.1186/s12885-025-14218-5The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancerQian Zhu0Hao Hu1Li-Ying OuYang2Rong Yang3Wen-Xiao Wei4Pin Huang5Xin-Rong He6State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterDepartment of Radiation Therapy, General Hospital of Southern Theater CommandState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterState Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer CenterAbstract Objective While PD-L1 expression serves as a predictive biomarker for programmed cell death 1 and its ligand (PD-1/PD-L1) inhibitor efficacy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), its association with treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) has yet to be fully elucidated. This study systematically evaluated the correlation between PD-L1 expression status and TRAEs in patients with NSCLC. Methods We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed databases from inception to June 30, 2024, to identify prospective clinical trials examining PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors among NSCLC patients that reported treatment-related toxicity data stratified by PD-L1 expression. Results Twenty-six prospective trials (N = 5,453) were analyzed. At the 1%, 25%, and 50% PD-L1 cutoffs, PD-L1-negative patients presented significantly reduced risks of grade 3–4 TRAEs (OR = 0.37, 0.53, 0.41; 95% CI = 0.18–0.77, 0.31–0.90, 0.19–0.97; P < 0.01, 0.02, 0.04). Similarly, PD-L1-negative patients had significantly reduced risks of AEs leading to treatment discontinuation at the 1% and 25% PD-L1 cutoffs (OR = 0.25, 0.38; 95% CI = 0.08–0.76, 0.16–0.89; P = 0.01, 0.03) but not at the 50% PD-L1 cutoff (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.07–1.12, P = 0.07). Subgroup analyses revealed elevated all-grade TRAEs with the 22C3 immunohistochemistry assay (P < 0.001), whereas first-line therapy recipients (P = 0.006) and open-label trial participants (P = 0.002) presented increased grade 3–4 TRAEs. Conclusions PD-L1 positivity may predict increased risks of grade 3–4 TRAEs and AEs leading to treatment discontinuation in NSCLC patients receiving PD-1/PD-L1 blockade. Furthermore, PD-L1 expression might be a useful biomarker for toxicity management in patients with NSCLC after PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor treatment.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14218-5PD-L1 expressionPD-1/PD-L1 inhibitorToxicity profileNon-small cell lung cancer
spellingShingle Qian Zhu
Hao Hu
Li-Ying OuYang
Rong Yang
Wen-Xiao Wei
Pin Huang
Xin-Rong He
The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
BMC Cancer
PD-L1 expression
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor
Toxicity profile
Non-small cell lung cancer
title The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
title_full The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
title_fullStr The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
title_full_unstemmed The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
title_short The association of PD-L1 expression status and the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor-related toxicity profile in non-small cell lung cancer
title_sort association of pd l1 expression status and the pd 1 pd l1 inhibitor related toxicity profile in non small cell lung cancer
topic PD-L1 expression
PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor
Toxicity profile
Non-small cell lung cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-025-14218-5
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