BACKGROUND: Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is a standard predictor in the selection of immunotherapy for locally advanced/advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, comedication with corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may influence the effectiveness of this treatment as documented in several previous studies. Due to certain molecular linkages between PD-L1 and corticosteroids or NSAIDs, we therefore addressed the question of whether there is a relationship between PD-L1 expression in NSCLC and the use of this comedication. METHODS: This is a retrospective study using the Czech tumor registry LUng CAncer focuS (LUCAS), from which patient data were drawn. Independence of two categorical parameters was tested by Pearson's chi-square test. RESULTS: In our group of 1,148 patients, we observed no significant relationship between PD-L1 expression and the use of corticosteroids or NSAIDs. CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, treatment with corticosteroids or NSAIDs during biopsy does not affect the expression of PD-L1 and it is therefore not necessary to take this treatment into account in this regard.

Department of Pathology University Hospital in Pilsen Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Pilsen Czech Republic

Department of Pneumology 2nd Faculty of Medicine Charles University Prague Czech Republic

Department of Pneumology and Phthisiology University Hospital in Pilsen Faculty of Medicine in Pilsen Charles University Pilsen Czech Republic

Department of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery Bulovka Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Department of Pneumology Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Kralove Charles University Hradec Kralove Czech Republic

Department of Respiratory Diseases Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Brno Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic

Department of Respiratory Medicine Faculty of Medicine Palacky University Olomouc Czech Republic

Department of Respiratory Medicine Thomayer Hospital Prague Czech Republic

Institute of Biostatistics and Analyses Ltd Brno Czech Republic

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