Dr. Mohammed Haseebuddin on PD-1 Expression in RCC

Mohammed Haseebuddin, MD, a fellow in Urologic Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center, discusses the role of PD-1 expression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

An analysis looked at about 68 patients with clear cell RCC with flow cytometry and coordinated that with survival. These patients were compared with healthy non-cancer patients.

The analysis found that PD-1 expression on classical monocytes does demonstrate a poor prognosis—independent of grade, stage and other clinical variables, said Haseebuddin.

It has been shown, in the past, that PD-1 expression does decrease after surgery. The correlation that the analysis found between PD-1 expression and survival was in the preoperative setting, said Haseebuddin. If it can be determined which patients may have poor prognostic indicators, even before surgery, it is perhaps possible to identify those who would be better treated with immunotherapy.