Comprehensive Immuno-Molecular Profiles for Liposarcoma: Roles of Programmed Death Ligand 1, Microsatellite Instability, and PIK3CA

Abstract

Background: Developing personalized strategies for cancer has shown good efficacies.

Methods: We assessed the molecular targets programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), microsatellite instability (MSI), and PIK3CA. Seventy-four patients with liposarcomas who underwent curative resection were assessed for PD-L1 expression in the tumor and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), mismatch repair proteins (MLH1, PMS2, MSH2, and MSH6) by immunohistochemistry, MSI using polymerase chain reaction, and PIK3CA mutation/amplification using pyrosequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization.

Results: Seventeen (23%) cases were TIL+ (≥1 + expression) and associated with longer 5-year overall survival than those with TIL- tumors (84.4 vs. 60.8%, p = 0.007). Six (35.3%) PD-L1+ tumors were detected only in TIL+ cases, with none detected in tumor cells. Two well-differentiated liposarcomas showed MSI, one low and one high with concurrent loss of MLH1, MSH6, and PMS2. PIK3CA mutation was detected in 7 (9.5%) [exon 9 (n = 4) and exon 20 (n = 3)] and only 1 Q546K mutation was a PD-L1+ tumor. PIK3CA copy number gain was detected in 18 (24.4%) and was associated with TIL+ tumors (p = 0.045).

Conclusions: Our comprehensive immuno-molecular panel suggests that liposarcoma should be categorized based on the molecular genomic subtype for precision medicine.