BaCKgRoUND aND aIMS: We investigated the prognostic value of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status, and their combination in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their association with PD-L1 expression and vascular formation was further explored. appRoaCH aND ReSUltS: Using a database of 387 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC, immunohistochemical staining of PD-L1, CD8, and CD34 was performed. Additionally, we undertook an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for soluble PD-L1. Compared with patients with HCC and PD-L1-negative expression (n = 311), patients with HCC and PD-L1-positive expression (n = 76) showed significantly worse overall survival (OS; multivariate hazard ratio, 2.502; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.716-3.649; P < 0.0001). The presence of tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T cells was significantly correlated with longer OS (multivariate hazard ratio, 0.383; 95% CI, 0.274-0.537; P < 0.0001). Stratification based on PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status was also significantly associated with OS (log-rank, P < 0.0001). HCC with PD-L1-positive expression was significantly correlated with positivity for vessels that encapsulated tumor clusters. Serum PD-L1 levels were significantly higher in the group of patients who had PD-L1-positive expression than in the group of patients who had PD-L1-negative expression (P = 0.0158). CoNClUSIoNS: PD-L1 expression in cancer cells was associated with a poor clinical outcome and vascular formation in patients with HCC. Additionally, the combination of PD-L1 expression with tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status enabled further classification of patients based on their clinical outcome. Thus, PD-L1 expression in cancer cells and tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell status might serve as predictive tissue biomarkers.

Background Cancer‐related inflammation has been correlated with cancer prognosis. This study evaluated inflammatory biomarkers, including neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR), programmed death ligand (PD‐L) 1 expression, and tumour microenvironment in relation to prognosis and clinicopathological features of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) undergoing curative hepatic resection. Methods Patients who had liver resection for HCC in 2000–2011 were analysed. Univariable and multivariable analyses were conducted for overall (OS) and recurrence‐free (RFS) survival. Immunohistochemical analyses of PD‐L1, CD8 and CD68 expression were performed. HCC cell lines were evaluated for PD‐L1 expression. A subgroup analysis was conducted to determine patient features, survival and the tumour microenvironment. Results were validated in a cohort of patients with HCC treated surgically in 2012–2016. Results Some 281 patients who underwent hepatic resection for HCC were included. Multivariable analysis showed that low LMR was an independent prognostic factor of OS (hazard ratio (HR) 1·59, 95 per cent c.i. 1·00 to 2·41; P = 0·045) and RFS (HR 1·47, 1·05 to 2·04; P = 0·022) after resection. Low preoperative LMR values were correlated with higher α‐fetoprotein values (P < 0·001), larger tumour size (P < 0·001), and high rates of poor differentiation (P = 0·035) and liver cirrhosis (P = 0·008). LMR was significantly lower in PD‐L1‐positive patients than in those with PD‐L1 negativity (P < 0·001). Results were confirmed in the validation cohort. PD‐L1 expression was upregulated in HCC cell lines treated with interferon‐γ and co‐cultured with THP‐1 monocyte cells. Conclusion LMR is an independent predictor of survival after hepatic resection in patients with HCC. Modulation of the immune checkpoint pathway in the tumour microenvironment is associated with a low LMR.

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Recent studies revealed that systemic inflammation was correlated with poorer prognosis in various cancers. We investigated the prognostic value of the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients who underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We retrospectively analyzed the records of 216 patients who underwent LDLT for HCC. Patients were divided into high (n = 126) and low (n = 90) LMR groups. Their clinicopathological parameters and survival times were compared. To determine the mechanisms of the change in the LMR, we performed immunohistochemical analyses of CD3 and CD68 expression. A low LMR was significantly associated with a high Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score; a high Child-Pugh score; elevation of alpha-fetoprotein, des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio; larger tumor size; more tumors; and poorer prognosis. A low LMR was associated with poor prognosis and represented an independent prognostic factor, particularly among patients beyond the Milan criteria. The ratio of CD3-positive to CD68-positive cells was significantly lower in the low-LMR group. In conclusion, our results show that the LMR was an independent predictor of survival of patients with HCC beyond the Milan criteria who underwent LDLT. The LMR reflected the immune status of the tumor microenvironment.

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