2023
Intratumor spatial heterogeneity in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein expression in early-stage breast cancer
Kahn A, Golestani R, Harigopal M, Pusztai L. Intratumor spatial heterogeneity in programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein expression in early-stage breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research And Treatment 2023, 201: 289-298. PMID: 37378695, DOI: 10.1007/s10549-023-06977-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTriple-negative breast cancerPD-L1 expressionBreast cancerPD-L1Metastatic triple-negative breast cancerPD-L1 positive casesEarly-stage breast cancerPD-L1 protein expressionImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 positivityPD-L1 statusProtein expressionWhole study populationPrimary breast tumorsNegative breast cancerConcordant negative resultsCheckpoint inhibitorsMultiple biopsiesPositive cancersCohen's kappa coefficientStudy populationE1L3N antibodyDiscordance rateBreast tumorsPositive casesMetastatic breast cancer (MBC) with ultra-high tumor mutational burden (UHTMB): A comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) study.
Fanucci K, Lustberg M, Fischbach N, Pelletier M, Sivapiragasam A, Ashok Kumar P, Kallem M, Danziger N, Sokol E, Sivakumar S, Pavlick D, Ross J, Pusztai L. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) with ultra-high tumor mutational burden (UHTMB): A comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2023, 41: 1036-1036. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2023.41.16_suppl.1036.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMetastatic breast cancerLobular histologyBreast cancerHER2 IHCGenomic alterationsComprehensive genomic profiling studyPD-L1 gene amplificationImmune checkpoint inhibitor treatmentMicrosatellite instabilityAxillary LN metastasisMetastatic site biopsySubset of ptsStage IV diseaseCheckpoint inhibitor treatmentPD-L1 expressionTumor mutational burdenMutations/MbMSI-high statusHER2 IHC resultsGenomic profiling studiesSite biopsiesSP142 assayLN metastasisMetastatic diseaseHigh TMBVariable Landscape of PD-L1 Expression in Breast Carcinoma as Detected by the DAKO 22C3 Immunohistochemistry Assay
Danziger N, Sokol E, Graf R, Hiemenz M, Maule J, Parimi V, Palmieri C, Pusztai L, Ross J, Huang R. Variable Landscape of PD-L1 Expression in Breast Carcinoma as Detected by the DAKO 22C3 Immunohistochemistry Assay. The Oncologist 2023, 28: 319-326. PMID: 36866462, PMCID: PMC10078903, DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyad025.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTriple-negative breast cancerPD-L1 expressionNegative triple negative breast cancerTNBC tissue samplesPD-L1 positivityPD-L1Dako 22C3Breast cancerDeath ligand 1 (PD-L1) immunohistochemistry (IHC) assaysPD-L1 groupNon-TNBC patientsTissue samplesComprehensive genomic profilingBreast cancer subtypesFoundationOne CDxImmunotherapy efficacyMetastatic sitesTNBC casesBC patientsBreast carcinomaPositive statusImmunohistochemistry assaysOptimum cutoffCancer subtypesGenomic profiling
2022
PD-L1 protein expression in relation to recurrence score values in early-stage ER + breast cancer
Rozenblit M, Blenman K, Harigopal M, Reisenbichler E, Singh K, Qing T, Ibrahim E, Ramkissoon S, Asmelash S, Lin HK, Roberts M, Ross J, Huang RSP, Pusztai L. PD-L1 protein expression in relation to recurrence score values in early-stage ER + breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research And Treatment 2022, 196: 221-227. PMID: 36028784, DOI: 10.1007/s10549-022-06712-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 positivityPD-L1 protein expressionPD-L1 expressionGrade 3 cancersPD-L1TIL scoreTumor gradeMultivariate analysisHigher PD-L1 positivityTumor-infiltrating lymphocyte countsConclusionPD-L1 expressionProtein expressionPD-L1 immunohistochemistryChi-square testResultsPD-L1T1 cancersLymphocyte countT3 tumorsIndependent predictorsTumor sizeLarge tumorsPositivity rateCell positivityBreast cancerGrade 2Clinical outcomes and immune markers by race in a phase I/II clinical trial of durvalumab concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage TNBC.
Foldi J, Kahn A, Silber A, Qing T, Reisenbichler E, Fischbach N, Persico J, Adelson K, Katoch A, Chagpar A, Park T, Blanchard A, Blenman K, Rimm D, Pusztai L. Clinical outcomes and immune markers by race in a phase I/II clinical trial of durvalumab concomitant with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in early-stage TNBC. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2022, 40: 516-516. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2022.40.16_suppl.516.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchImmune-related adverse eventsTriple-negative breast cancerMultivariate logistic regression analysisPD-L1 statusLogistic regression analysisAA raceOverall survivalPathologic responseClinical trialsBreast cancerEarly-stage triple-negative breast cancerIncidence of irAEsPhase I/II trialPathologic complete response rateSignificant associationPhase I/II clinical trialsBaseline body mass indexSafety of immunotherapyWeekly nab-paclitaxelCharlson Comorbidity IndexComplete response ratePrimary efficacy endpointPD-L1 expressionBody mass indexBreast cancer recurrence
2021
A Novel Immunomodulatory 27-Gene Signature to Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy for Primary Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Iwase T, Blenman KRM, Li X, Reisenbichler E, Seitz R, Hout D, Nielsen TJ, Schweitzer BL, Bailey DB, Shen Y, Zhang X, Pusztai L, Ueno NT. A Novel Immunomodulatory 27-Gene Signature to Predict Response to Neoadjuvant Immunochemotherapy for Primary Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Cancers 2021, 13: 4839. PMID: 34638323, PMCID: PMC8508147, DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194839.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPD-L1 expressionNeoadjuvant immunochemotherapyPrimary triple-negative breast cancerTriple-negative breast cancerPrecise predictive biomarkersImmunomodulatory subtypeNovel immunomodulatoryPrimary TNBCTNBC responsePCR ratePredictive biomarkersPrimary tumorIM subtypesBreast cancerImmunochemotherapyLarge cohortTNBCImmunohistochemistryPilot studySubtypesExpressionPCRDurvalumabPatientsCohortCharacterization of the tumor immune microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients who self-identify as African American (AA) or non-African American (NonAA).
Blenman K, Marczyk M, Qing T, O'Meara T, Yaghoobi V, Pelekanou V, Bai Y, Reisenbichler E, Li X, Gunasekharan V, Ibrahim E, Rimm D, Pusztai L, Cole K. Characterization of the tumor immune microenvironment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients who self-identify as African American (AA) or non-African American (NonAA). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2021, 39: 564-564. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.564.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTriple-negative breast cancerTumor immune microenvironmentAA patientsImmune microenvironmentWhole-exome sequencingAfrican AmericansTriple-negative breast cancer patientsYale Cancer CenterImmune checkpoint inhibitorsPD-L1 positivityPD-L1 expressionYear of diagnosisBreast cancer patientsCytokines/chemokinesImmune cell compositionTumor mutational burdenGermline whole-exome sequencingAge of diagnosisNegative breast cancerCorresponding clinical dataAllograft rejection pathwayNon-African AmericansSomatic mutationsFatty acid metabolismCheckpoint inhibitorsComparison of programmed death-ligand 1 protein expression between primary and metastatic lesions in patients with lung cancer
Moutafi MK, Tao W, Huang R, Haberberger J, Alexander B, Ramkissoon S, Ross JS, Syrigos K, Wei W, Pusztai L, Rimm DL, Vathiotis IA. Comparison of programmed death-ligand 1 protein expression between primary and metastatic lesions in patients with lung cancer. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2021, 9: e002230. PMID: 33833050, PMCID: PMC8039214, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002230.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionMetastatic lesionsLung cancer casesLung cancerCancer casesAdvanced stage non-small cell lung cancerNon-small cell lung cancerNon-squamous histologyCell lung cancerFuture patient managementDefinite diagnostic testSquamous histologyFoundation MedicineLymph nodesRoutine careHistologic subtypeMetastatic sitesPrimary lesionRetrospective studyAdrenal glandPrimary tumorPleural fluidPatient managementTrial designDrug Administration
2020
Comparison of PD-L1 protein expression between primary tumors and metastatic lesions in triple negative breast cancers
Rozenblit M, Huang R, Danziger N, Hegde P, Alexander B, Ramkissoon S, Blenman K, Ross JS, Rimm DL, Pusztai L. Comparison of PD-L1 protein expression between primary tumors and metastatic lesions in triple negative breast cancers. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2020, 8: e001558. PMID: 33239417, PMCID: PMC7689582, DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-001558.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 positivity ratePD-L1 positivityPD-L1 expressionDifferent metastatic sitesPrimary tumorMetastatic sitesPositivity rateImmune cellsMetastatic lesionsTumor cellsPD-L1 protein expressionTriple-negative breast cancerMore primary tumorsTriple negative breast cancer tumorsPrimary breast lesionsPrimary outcome measureSoft tissueNegative breast cancerLow positivity rateBreast cancer tumorsBone metastasesFoundation MedicineLymph nodesPD-L1Spearman correlation coefficientPD-L1 Protein Expression on Both Tumor Cells and Macrophages are Associated with Response to Neoadjuvant Durvalumab with Chemotherapy in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Ahmed FS, Gaule P, McGuire J, Patel K, Blenman K, Pusztai L, Rimm DL. PD-L1 Protein Expression on Both Tumor Cells and Macrophages are Associated with Response to Neoadjuvant Durvalumab with Chemotherapy in Triple-negative Breast Cancer. Clinical Cancer Research 2020, 26: 5456-5461. PMID: 32709714, PMCID: PMC7572612, DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-20-1303.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAgedAntibodies, MonoclonalAntigens, CDAntigens, Differentiation, MyelomonocyticAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsB7-H1 AntigenBiomarkers, TumorCell ProliferationFemaleGene Expression Regulation, NeoplasticHumansLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMacrophagesMiddle AgedNeoadjuvant TherapyProgrammed Cell Death 1 ReceptorTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsConceptsTriple-negative breast cancerPD-L1 expressionNeoadjuvant durvalumabTumor cellsImmune cellsBreast cancerPretreatment core-needle biopsiesPhase I/II clinical trialsPD-L1 protein expressionIMpassion 130 trialCore needle biopsyAmount of CD68Neoadjuvant settingMetastatic settingPD-L1Clinical trialsNeedle biopsyInsufficient tissuePatientsCD68Stromal compartmentQuantitative immunofluorescenceChemotherapyFinal analysisProtein expression
2019
Reanalysis of the NCCN PD-L1 companion diagnostic assay study for lung cancer in the context of PD-L1 expression findings in triple-negative breast cancer
Rimm DL, Han G, Taube JM, Yi ES, Bridge JA, Flieder DB, Homer R, Roden AC, Hirsch FR, Wistuba II, Pusztai L. Reanalysis of the NCCN PD-L1 companion diagnostic assay study for lung cancer in the context of PD-L1 expression findings in triple-negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Research 2019, 21: 72. PMID: 31196152, PMCID: PMC6567382, DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1156-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionImmune cell PD-L1 expressionLung cancerImmune cellsTriple-negative breast cancerEasy scoring methodCompanion diagnostic testsPD-L1Immune therapyBreast cancerImmunohistochemical testsBetter outcomesLarger studyTumor cellsDiagnostic testsCancerExpression findingsCellsExpressionPoor agreementScoring methodTherapyTrialsQuantitative assessment of immune cell populations and associations with clinical outcomes in African-American (AA) versus Caucasian triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
O'Meara T, Yaghoobi V, Blenman K, Pelekanou V, Silber A, Rimm D, Pusztai L. Quantitative assessment of immune cell populations and associations with clinical outcomes in African-American (AA) versus Caucasian triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2019, 37: e14180-e14180. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2019.37.15_suppl.e14180.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchTriple-negative breast cancerDisease-free survivalBetter disease-free survivalPD-L1 expressionCD68 expressionAA TNBCStromal PD-L1 expressionPD-L1 protein expressionCaucasian casesHigher TIL countsTumor immune microenvironmentImmune cell populationsHigh CD68 expressionHigh CD68Similar CD8Stromal TILsClinical characteristicsDiagnosis dateTIL countPD-L1Clinical outcomesPredictive factorsCD8 expressionClinical variablesImmune microenvironmentImmune profiling of pre- and post-treatment breast cancer tissues from the SWOG S0800 neoadjuvant trial
Li X, Warren S, Pelekanou V, Wali V, Cesano A, Liu M, Danaher P, Elliott N, Nahleh ZA, Hayes DF, Hortobagyi GN, Barlow WE, Hatzis C, Pusztai L. Immune profiling of pre- and post-treatment breast cancer tissues from the SWOG S0800 neoadjuvant trial. Journal For ImmunoTherapy Of Cancer 2019, 7: 88. PMID: 30967156, PMCID: PMC6457012, DOI: 10.1186/s40425-019-0563-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPathologic complete responseResidual diseaseTIL countGene expression levelsHigh expressionCellular stressNeoadjuvant chemotherapyImmune genesImmune-related genesStromal genesImmune functionImmune microenvironment changesMost immune functionsGenesCell typesPD-L1 protein expressionStem cellsHigher TIL countsPD-L1 expressionExpression levelsPrimary breast cancerT-cell markersImmune cell typesProtein expressionStromal function
2018
Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in pre- and post-treatment breast cancers in the SWOG S0800 Phase II neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial
Pelekanou V, Barlow WE, Nahleh Z, Wasserman B, Lo YC, von Wahlde MK, Hayes D, Hortobagyi GN, Gralow J, Tripathy D, Porter P, Szekely B, Hatzis C, Rimm DL, Pusztai L. Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in pre- and post-treatment breast cancers in the SWOG S0800 Phase II neoadjuvant chemotherapy trial. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2018, 17: molcanther.1005.2017. PMID: 29588392, PMCID: PMC6548451, DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-1005.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPD-L1 expressionPathologic complete responseTIL countPosttreatment tissuePD-L1Estrogen receptorImmune checkpoint inhibitor therapyPD-L1 positivity rateTumor-infiltrating lymphocyte countsDoxorubicin/cyclophosphamideCheckpoint inhibitor therapyPD-L1 levelsMol Cancer TherNab-paclitaxelLymphocyte countResidual cancerComplete responseER statusImmune changesInhibitor therapyCox regressionPatient populationControl armClinical trialsPositivity rate
2017
Erratum to: Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance
Pelekanou V, Carvajal-Hausdorf DE, Altan M, Wasserman B, Carvajal-Hausdorf C, Wimberly H, Brown J, Lannin D, Pusztai L, Rimm DL. Erratum to: Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance. Breast Cancer Research 2017, 19: 109. PMID: 28946899, PMCID: PMC5613519, DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0898-2.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance
Pelekanou V, Carvajal-Hausdorf DE, Altan M, Wasserman B, Carvajal-Hausdorf C, Wimberly H, Brown J, Lannin D, Pusztai L, Rimm DL. Effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and PD-L1 expression in breast cancer and its clinical significance. Breast Cancer Research 2017, 19: 91. PMID: 28784153, PMCID: PMC5547502, DOI: 10.1186/s13058-017-0884-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsStromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytesPD-L1 expressionTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesRecurrence-free survivalNeoadjuvant chemotherapyResidual cancer tissueTIL countBreast cancerCancer tissuesDeath ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein expressionNode-positive breast cancerImproved recurrence-free survivalPD-L1 protein expressionHigher TIL countsPD-L1 statusProtein expressionBreast cancer patientsBreast cancer tissuesPost-treatment samplesPrechemotherapy samplesTIL infiltrationResidual cancerImmune markersResidual diseasePatient cohortEffects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and PD-L1 expression in the SWOG S0800 clinical trial.
Pelekanou V, Barlow W, von Wahlde M, Wasserman B, Lo Y, Hayes D, Hortobagyi G, Gralow J, Tripathy D, Livingston R, Porter P, Nahleh Z, Rimm D, Pusztai L. Effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and PD-L1 expression in the SWOG S0800 clinical trial. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2017, 35: 519-519. DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.519.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPD-L1 expressionNeoadjuvant chemotherapyNAC armTIL countClinical trialsImmune parametersNAC samplesBaseline PD-L1 expressionPathologic complete response rateDose-dense doxorubicinComplete response ratePD-L1 immunohistochemistryHER2-negative casesMinority of casesNab-paclitaxelResidual diseaseMean changeResponse rateLogistic regressionTILsBaselineEpithelial cellsHigh PCRChemotherapyTumors
2016
Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Phase Ib KEYNOTE-012 Study
Nanda R, Chow LQ, Dees EC, Berger R, Gupta S, Geva R, Pusztai L, Pathiraja K, Aktan G, Cheng JD, Karantza V, Buisseret L. Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Phase Ib KEYNOTE-012 Study. Journal Of Clinical Oncology 2016, 34: 2460-2467. PMID: 27138582, PMCID: PMC6816000, DOI: 10.1200/jco.2015.64.8931.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTriple-negative breast cancerAdvanced triple-negative breast cancerPD-L1Antitumor activityBreast cancerCell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitorsSingle-agent phase II studyAdvanced PD-L1Single-agent pembrolizumabStudy of immunotherapyTreatment-related deathsImmune checkpoint inhibitionPhase Ib studyPhase Ib trialPhase II studyAcceptable safety profilePD-L1 expressionOverall response rateProtein 1 inhibitorCommon toxicitiesIb trialKEYNOTE-012TNBC cohortII studyMedian duration
2015
PD-L1 Expression Correlates with Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
Wimberly H, Brown JR, Schalper K, Haack H, Silver MR, Nixon C, Bossuyt V, Pusztai L, Lannin DR, Rimm DL. PD-L1 Expression Correlates with Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer. Cancer Immunology Research 2015, 3: 326-332. PMID: 25527356, PMCID: PMC4390454, DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-14-0133.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsTumor-infiltrating lymphocytesPD-L1 expressionPathologic complete responseNeoadjuvant chemotherapyPD-L1Breast cancerDeath 1 ligand 1PD-L1 protein expressionYale-New Haven HospitalHigh PD-L1Antitumor immune activitySubset of patientsTriple-negative patientsBreast cancer patientsTriple-negative statusImmune checkpoint proteinsImmune regulatory moleculesNew Haven HospitalSignificant multivariate modelRabbit monoclonal antibodyTILs correlateComplete responseImmune therapyCancer patientsImmune activity