Pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1 and programmed death-ligand 1 in gastric and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

[BACKGROUND] Gastric cancer (GC) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are common malignancies with high morbidity and mortality rates. Traditional treatments often yield limited efficacy, especially in advanced cases. Recent advancements in immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), have shown promise. However, the expression and interaction of pescadillo ribosomal biogenesis factor 1 (PES1) and PD-L1 in these cancers remain unclear. Understanding their roles could provide new insights into tumor biology and improve therapeutic strategies.

[AIM] To investigate the expression levels of PES1 and PD-L1 in tumor tissues of patients with GC and HNSCC.

[METHODS] A total of 58 cases of GC and HNSCC undergoing surgical resection were selected from January 2022 to January 2024. Paraffin specimens of GC and HNSCC tissues were taken from the patients, and the sections were subjected to staining with immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin-eosin staining, and the protein expression of PES1 and PD-L1 was observed microscopically.

[RESULTS] Among 58 GC and HNSCC tissues, 30 cases were positive and 28 cases were negative for PES1 expression, and 34 cases were positive and 24 cases were negative for PD-L1 expression. The positive expression rates of PES1 and PD-L1 were 51.72% and 58.62%, respectively. PES1 expression was correlated with the TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and the depth of infiltration ( < 0.05), and PD-L1 expression was correlated with the differentiation degree, lymph node metastasis, and infiltration depth ( < 0.05).

[CONCLUSION] PES1 and PD-L1 were positively expressed in GC and HNSCC tissues and correlated with clinical features. They may serve as potential biomarkers for immune-targeted therapies.