[Practical aspects of PD-L1 assessment in the treatment of urothelial carcinoma: Consensus of the uropathology group of the SEAP]

Abstract

The recent addition of novel immunotherapy drugs for the treatment of urothelial carcinoma makes it necessary the establishment of criteria to harmonize the immunohistochemical assessment of PD-L1, both as a prognostic factor and for the selection of patients to be treated. In this scenario, a group of uropathologists from the Spanish Society of Pathological Anatomy, together with a medical oncologist as an external collaborator subspecialized in uro-oncology, have prepared this document of recommendations based on the available evidence. During PD-L1 assessment it is especially relevant the selection of the sample, its processing, the immunohistochemical platform and antibody used, and the algorithm applied in the interpretation of results. All these aspects must be indicated in the results report, which should be easily interpretable in a context of rapid evolution of immunological therapies.

Keywords: Antibody; Anticuerpo; Carcinoma urotelial; Immunohistochemistry; Immunotherapy; Inmunohistoquímica; Inmunoterapia; PD-L1; Urothelial carcinoma.