To investigate the relationship between programmed death 1 (PD-1), programmed death receptor-1 ligand (PD-L1) and clinical pathological parameters, early postoperative recurrence and metastasis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

The retrospectively analyze of Paraffin tissue specimens and clinical pathology data in 58 Patients undergoing radical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma surgery from January 2015 to January 2017 in the 910 hospital of PLA Joint Service Support force were performed.Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and normal esophageal mucosa were detected by SP immunohistochemical staining.The positive expression rates of PD-1 and PD-L1 in normal esophageal mucosa and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were compared.the relationship between PD-1 and PD-L1 and gender, age, family history, depth of tumor invasion, degree of differentiation, lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging were analyzed.Follow-up was performed by outpatient consultation and telephone consultation.The recurrence and metastasis of early postoperative (≤1 year) was analyzed.The PD-1 and PD-L1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were analyzed in patients with recurrent metastasis and non-relapsing and metastasis.

The positive expression rate of PD-1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 37.93%(22/58), which was significantly higher than that in normal esophageal mucosa 15.52%(9/58). The difference was statistically significant (χ²=7.440, P=0.006). The positive expression rate of PD-L1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma was 43.10%(25/58), which was significantly higher than that of normal esophageal mucosa 18.97%(11/58). The difference was statistically significant (χ²=7.894, P=0.005). There was a difference in the positive expression rate of PD-L1 between different infiltration depth and TNM stage, P<0.05.58 patients who underwent radical esophageal squamous cell carcinoma had been followed up for 6-12 months.A total of 14 patients had recurrence and metastasis, the incidence rate was 24.14%.The positive expression rate of PD-1 in the recurrence group was 42.86% (6/14), and that in the non-recurrent group was 36.36% (16/44). The difference was not statistically significant, (χ²=0.190, P>0.05). The positive expression rate of PD-L1 in the recurrence group was 71.43% (10/14), and that in the non-recurrent group was 34.09% (15/44). The difference was statistically significant, (χ²=6.037, P<0.05).

The expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in cancer tissues of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma is highly expressed.PD-L1 is closely related to the occurrence and progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and it is also an important index affecting early recurrence and metastasis.Which can be selected as a new target for early diagnosis and treatment.

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; Programmed death 1; Programmed death receptor-1 ligand; Clinicopathological features; Recurrence and metastasis; Correlation