Co-expression of NGF and PD-L1 on tumor-associated immune cells in the microenvironment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Ulrike WehkampSophie SternSandra KrügerMichael WeichenthalAxel HauschildChristoph RöckenFriederike Egberts

Published in: Journal of cancer research and clinical oncology (2018)

The present study shows that PD-L1 and NGF are co-expressed on spindle cells in the microenvironment. The expression of NGF might be a link of the microenvironment to the TrkA-positive tumor cells. Whether this mechanism is critical for tumor growth and lack of response to anti-PD-1/L1 treatment has to be investigated in further studies.

Keyphrases

poor prognosis
growth factor
stem cells
induced apoptosis
binding protein
cell cycle arrest
oxidative stress
endoplasmic reticulum stress
atomic force microscopy
mass spectrometry
cell proliferation
case control
combination therapy