Volume 31, Issue 6 pp. 869-877
RESEARCH ARTICLE

PD-L1 in circulating exosomes of Merkel cell carcinoma

Anaïs Zanella

Corresponding Author

Anaïs Zanella

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France

Correspondence

Anaïs Zanella, CHU, Service de Dermatologie, 3 Boulevard Alexandre Fleming, 25030 Besançon Cedex, France.

Email: [email protected]

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Valentin Vautrot

Valentin Vautrot

INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC, Dijon, France

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François Aubin

François Aubin

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France

UMR 1098 RIGHT, University of Besançon, Besancon, France

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Laure Avoscan

Laure Avoscan

Agroécology Agro Dijon Institute, CNRS, INRAE, Burgundy university, Bourgogne Franche-Comté Universuty, DImaCell, Dijon, France

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Mahtab Samimi

Mahtab Samimi

Dermatology, University Hospital, Tours, France

UMR INRA 1282, University of Tours, Tours, France

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Carmen Garrido

Carmen Garrido

INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC, Dijon, France

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Jessica Gobbo

Jessica Gobbo

INSERM, UMR 1231, Laboratoire d'Excellence LipSTIC, Dijon, France

INSERM, CIC-1432, Dijon, France

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Burgundy, Dijon, France

Department of Medical Oncology, Early Phase Unit, Georges-François Leclerc Centre, Dijon, France

NanoDiag, Georges-François Leclerc Centre, Dijon, France

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Charlée Nardin

Charlée Nardin

Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France

UMR 1098 RIGHT, University of Besançon, Besancon, France

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First published: 07 January 2022
Citations: 5

Jessica Gobbo and Charlée Nardin co-direction of the work.

Anaïs Zanella and Valentin Vautrot equal contribution to the work.

Funding information

The bourse of CARADERM 2020

Abstract

Exosomes, as potential circulated biomarkers, have recently become a topic of interest in the field of oncology. Immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 has recently been detected in circulating exosomes from cancer patients. The purpose of this work was to evaluate PD-L1 levels in circulating exosomes (Exo-PD-L1) isolated from patients’ plasma suffering from Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). We conducted a prospective bicentric cohort study. PD-L1 was analysed in circulating exosomes from plasma samples of patients suffering from MCC stage I to IV (according to the AJCC 8). Exosomes from 34 patients corresponding to 66 samples were analysed. PD-L1 was identified in circulating exosomes of MCC patients. Exo-PD-L1 levels of MCC patients were similar to healthy donors and lower than other cancers such as melanoma. Exo-PD-L1 levels tended to be higher in MCC patients with distant metastases. Furthermore, Exo-PD-L1 levels did not significantly vary over the course of the disease whatever the disease course or the response to treatment. This study assessed the presence of PD-L1 in circulating exosomes of MCC patients. The low levels of Exo-PD-L1 and small changes over the course of the disease may be due to the metastatic dissemination of MCC, which is mainly through the skin and lymph nodes rather than blood. PD-L1 was identified in circulating exosomes of MCC patients and tends to be higher in advanced disease. This preliminary study is a proof of concept of PD-L1 detection in circulating exosomes of MCC patients.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

The authors do not declare conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data available on request from the authors.

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