Article

Frequency and clinicopathologic associations of microsatellite instability and PD-L1 expression in Vietnamese patients with gastric cancer

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Van Thinh, P., Ngoc Dung, T., Thuat Thang, V., Thanh Chung, N., Thuy Linh, N., Thu Hien, N., Dinh Tien, T., Son Tung, D., Thai Tra, D., Mai Hanh, N., Van Khuong, K., Xuan Huy, P., Van De, N., & Thanh Chung, D. (2023). Frequency and clinicopathologic associations of microsatellite instability and PD-L1 expression in Vietnamese patients with gastric cancer. Trends in Immunotherapy, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.24294/ti.v7.i2.2848

Authors

  • Pham Van Thinh Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Tran Ngoc Dung Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Vi Thuat Thang Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thanh Chung Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thuy Linh Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thu Hien Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Truong Dinh Tien Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Dang Son Tung Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Dang Thai Tra Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Mai Hanh Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Kieu Van Khuong Emergency Department, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Pham Xuan Huy Department of Pathophysiology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Van De Department of Pathology, 108 Military Central Hospital, Ha Noi 11650, Viet Nam
  • Dang Thanh Chung
    Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Military Hospital 103, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi 12108, Viet Nam

Background: Our study aimed to determine the frequency of microsatellite instability (MSI) and characterize the associations between MSI status, PD-L1 expression, and clinicopathological features in Vietnamese patients with gastric cancer. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study that analyzed 87 patients with gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy from January 2020 to March 2023. MSI status was assessed by immunohistochemistry for mismatch repair proteins. PD-L1 expression was evaluated by tumor proportion score (TPS) and combined positive score (CPS). Associations between MSI, PD-L1, and clinicopathologic factors were analyzed. Results: MSI-high (MSI-H) was identified in 13.8% of tumors and significantly associated with intestinal subtype, moderate differentiation, necrosis, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, and PD-L1 positivity. Lymphatic invasion correlated with increased TPS. Intestinal classification correlated with higher CPS. Conclusion: MSI-H identifies a subset of gastric cancers with distinct features. PD-L1 expression is associated with aggressive disease parameters. Biomarker-based stratification may guide personalized therapy.

Keywords:

gastric cancer microsatellite instability PD-L1 tumor microenvironment biomarkers Vietnam

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