A1 Journal article (refereed)
Prognostic impact of CD73 expression and its relationship to PD-L1 in patients with radically treated pancreatic cancer (2021)

Tahkola, Kyösti, Ahtiainen, Maarit, Kellokumpu, Ilmo, Mecklin, Jukka-Pekka, Laukkarinen Johanna, Laakkonen, Joni, Kenessey, Istvan, Jalkanen, Sirpa, Salmi, Marko, Böhm, Jan. (2021). Prognostic impact of CD73 expression and its relationship to PD-L1 in patients with radically treated pancreatic cancer. Virchows Archiv, 478(2), 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02888-4

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Tahkola, Kyösti; Ahtiainen, Maarit; Kellokumpu, Ilmo; Mecklin, Jukka-Pekka; Laukkarinen Johanna; Laakkonen, Joni; Kenessey, Istvan; Jalkanen, Sirpa; Salmi, Marko; Böhm, Jan

Journal or series: Virchows Archiv

ISSN: 0945-6317

eISSN: 1432-2307

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 16/07/2020

Volume: 478

Issue number: 2

Pages range: 209-217

Publisher: Springer

Publication country: Germany

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00428-020-02888-4

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/71213

Abstract

Immune suppressing molecule CD73 is overexpressed in various cancers and associated with poor survival. Little is so far known about the predictive value of CD73 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of CD73 in PDAC. The study material consisted of 110 radically treated patients for PDAC. Tissue microarray blocks were constructed and stained immunohistochemically using CD73 antibody. Staining intensity and numbers of stained tumour cells, inflammatory cells, stroma, and blood vessels were assessed. High-level CD73 expression in tumour cells was positively associated with PD-L1 expression, perineural invasion, and histopathological grade. CD73 positivity in tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. Lymphocytic CD73 positivity was also associated with staining positivity in both stroma and vascular structures. In addition, CD73 positivity in vascular structures and stroma were associated with each other. There were no significant associations between CD73 positive tumour cells and CD73 positivity in any other cell types. PD-L1 expression was associated with CD73 staining positivity in stroma (p = 0.007) and also with histopathological grade (p = 0.033) and T class (p = 0.016) of the primary tumour. CD73 positivity in tumour cells was significantly associated with poor disease-specific (p = 0.021) and overall survival (p = 0.016). In multivariate analysis, CD73 positivity in tumour cells was an independent negative prognostic factor together with histopathological grade, TNM stage, and low immune cell score. In conclusion, high CD73 expression in tumour cells is associated with poor survival in PDAC independently of the number of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes or TNM stage.

Keywords: pancreatic cancer; cancer cells; enzymes; immune system; forecasts

Free keywords: pancreatic cancer; microenvironment; CD73; PD-L1; prognosis

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1