Loading
PD-L1 is the tumour's side of the PD-1 brake, and also the biomarker that decides who gets immunotherapy. This dossier gathers the 25 products (12 approved), 448 trials, 5 pathways and 5 resistance routes in the corpus that involve it, with external identifiers so it can be joined to UniProt, ChEMBL, Open Targets and the rest of biology.
Expressed on tumour and immune cells; induced by interferon-gamma.
| Cancer | Prevalence | Measure | Note | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma | 80-85% | CPS >=1 | KEYNOTE-048 | Wikipedia |
| Triple-negative breast cancer | 41-51% | IC 1% or more (SP142) | 46.4% of 614 centrally scored IMpassion130 samples (Rugo 2021); 50.9% of 232 population-based early TNBCs (Sigurjonsdottir 2023); the IMpassion130 PD-L1-positive subgroup was defined by this score (Schmid 2018). | doi.org |
| Triple-negative breast cancer | 35-40% | CPS >=10 (22C3), metastatic | KEYNOTE-355 screening | Wikipedia |
| Triple-negative breast cancer | 27-38% | CPS 10 or more (22C3) | The CPS-10 subgroup of KEYNOTE-355 carried the overall survival benefit, 23.0 versus 16.1 months (Cortes 2022); 27.2% of 232 early TNBCs, with CPS 1 or more in 53.9% (Sigurjonsdottir 2023); harmonised CPS 10 concordance with SP142 IC 1% was about 75% in IMpassion130 (Rugo 2021). cBioPortal: CD274 amplification in 8 of 119, 6.7%, in brca_tcga_pan_can_atlas_2018 and 20 of 320, 6.2%, in brca_metabric. | doi.org |
| Non-small-cell lung cancer | 25-30% | TPS >=50% | ~60-65% TPS >=1% | Wikipedia |
| Bladder & urothelial cancer | 25-30% | CPS >=10 | Wikipedia | |
| Gallbladder cancer | 15-23% | Protein expression (IHC) | Tumour cells positive at 1% or more in 23.0% of 174 Indian cases (SP263; 14.9% at 10% and 7.5% at 50%), with PD-L1 on immune cells in 24.1% (Neyaz 2018); tumour proportion score 1% or more in 14.7% of 131 Western cases, 4.7% above 10% and 3.1% above 25% (Albrecht 2021); 98% of 47 United States adenocarcinomas stained with a different antibody and scoring (Patil 2021). | doi.org |
| Small-cell lung cancer | 15-20% | Any tumour-cell expression | Wikipedia |
Approximate, population-level figures; the measure column says what was counted. Ranges show the midpoint as a bar.
| Modality | Approved | Phase 3 | Phase 2 | Withdrawn or failed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibody 14 | ||||
| Bispecific antibody 3 | - | - | ||
| Test or device 3 | - | - | - | |
| ADC 2 | - | - | - | |
| Vaccine or virus 2 | - | - | ||
| Imaging agent 1 | - | - | - |
| Trial | Setting | Result | Products | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DeLLphi-305 NCT06211036 | 3 | Positive | First-line maintenance in ES-SCLC after platinum-etoposide-durvalumab: tarlatamab + durvalumab vs durvalumab | Met the primary overall survival endpoint at the pre-specified interim analysis (Amgen, 8 September 2026); progression-free survival and response rate also improved; figures not yet disclosed. | |
DREAM3R NCT04334759 | 3 | Negative | Unresectable pleural mesothelioma, first line: durvalumab + platinum-pemetrexed vs chemotherapy | Stopped early; primary endpoint not met. | |
EMERALD-3 NCT05301842 | 3 | Positive | Embolisation-eligible unresectable HCC: STRIDE (durvalumab + tremelimumab) + lenvatinib + TACE vs TACE | PFS HR ~0.70 (interim); OS immature. | |
GeparDouze / NSABP B-59 NCT03281954 | 3 | Negative | Stage II to III triple-negative breast cancer: neoadjuvant taxane, carboplatin and anthracycline chemotherapy with atezolizumab or placebo, then adjuvant atezolizumab or placebo, United States, Canada and Germany | EFS HR 0.80 (0.62 to 1.03), p 0.083, not significant; OS HR 0.86 (0.62 to 1.19). | |
| 3 | Active | A Phase III, Randomised,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled,Study of Durvalumab as Consolidation Therapy in Patients With Locally Advanced,Unresectable NSCLC, Who Have Not Progressed Following Definitive, Platinum-Based Chemoradiation Therapy | - | ||
ALEXANDRA / IMpassion030 NCT03498716 | 3 | Negative | Stage II to III triple-negative breast cancer treated with surgery first: adjuvant paclitaxel then dose-dense anthracycline and cyclophosphamide with or without atezolizumab for up to one year, 330 centres in 31 countries | iDFS HR 1.11 (0.87 to 1.42), p 0.38; stopped for futility at 2,199 of 2,300 patients. | |
ATOMIC (Alliance A021502) NCT02912559 | 3 | Positive | Resected stage III dMMR colon cancer: adjuvant FOLFOX + atezolizumab (12 months) vs FOLFOX | 3-year DFS 86.4% vs 76.6%, HR 0.50. | |
IMforte NCT05091567 | 3 | Positive | First-line maintenance after induction chemo-immunotherapy in ES-SCLC: lurbinectedin + atezolizumab vs atezolizumab | OS 13.2 vs 10.6 months (HR 0.73); PFS HR 0.54. | |
IMvigor011 NCT04660344 | 3 | Positive | Muscle-invasive bladder cancer after cystectomy, ctDNA-positive (Signatera): atezolizumab vs placebo | DFS HR 0.64; OS HR 0.59 in ctDNA+. | |
KEYNOTE-B96 / ENGOT-ov65 NCT05116189 | 3 | Positive | Platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer, 1-2 prior lines: pembrolizumab + weekly paclitaxel ± bevacizumab vs placebo + paclitaxel ± bevacizumab | OS 18.2 vs 14.0 months in CPS ≥1 (HR 0.76); ITT OS HR 0.82. | |
MATTERHORN NCT04592913 | 3 | Positive | Resectable stage II-IVA gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma: perioperative FLOT + durvalumab vs FLOT + placebo | EFS HR 0.71; OS HR 0.78; 3-year OS 68.6%. | |
| 3 | Active | A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind Study of MK-7684A in Combination With Etoposide and Platinum Followed by MK-7684A vs Atezolizumab in Combination With Etoposide and Platinum Followed by Atezolizumab for the First-Line Treatment of Participants With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (KEYVIBE-008) | - | ||
POTOMAC NCT03528694 | 3 | Positive | BCG-naive high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer: durvalumab + BCG (induction and maintenance) vs BCG | DFS HR 0.68. | |
| 3 | Completed | A Phase III, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Atezolizumab Plus Carboplatin and Etoposide With or Without Tiragolumab in Patients With Untreated Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer | - | ||
| 3 | Active | A Phase 3, Randomized, Open-Label, Controlled Study of Cabozantinib (XL184) in Combination With Atezolizumab vs Second Novel Hormonal Therapy (NHT) in Subjects With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer | - | ||
| 3 | Active | A Randomized, Controlled Phase 3 Study of Cabozantinib (XL184) in Combination With Atezolizumab Versus Sorafenib in Subjects With Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Who Have Not Received Previous Systemic Anticancer Therapy | - | ||
A-BRAVE NCT02926196 | 3 | Mixed | High-risk early triple-negative breast cancer after surgery and chemotherapy (adjuvant stratum, or residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy): one year of adjuvant avelumab versus observation, Italy and the United Kingdom | Primary DFS endpoint not met (figures not indexed); exploratory: avelumab benefit only with baseline TILs 30% or more (stratum B 3-year DDFS 92.0% vs 58.7%, HR 0.20; interaction p 0.019). | |
ADRIATIC NCT03703297 | 3 | Positive | Limited-stage SCLC without progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy: durvalumab consolidation (up to 2 years) vs placebo | OS 55.9 vs 33.4 months, HR 0.73. | |
BEAT-meso (ETOP 13-18) NCT03762018 | 3 | Mixed | Advanced pleural mesothelioma, first line: bevacizumab + carboplatin-pemetrexed ± atezolizumab | OS not significantly improved overall; benefit in non-epithelioid subgroup. | |
EMERALD-1 NCT03778957 | 3 | Mixed | Embolisation-eligible unresectable HCC: TACE + durvalumab ± bevacizumab vs TACE + placebo | PFS HR 0.77; OS HR 0.80, not significant. | |
MERMAID-2 NCT04642469 | 3 | Completed | Stage II to III non-small-cell lung cancer after surgery and curative treatment: durvalumab against placebo started when ctDNA becomes detectable during surveillance | - | |
NIAGARA NCT03732677 | 3 | Positive | Cisplatin-eligible muscle-invasive bladder cancer: neoadjuvant durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin, cystectomy, adjuvant durvalumab vs neoadjuvant chemotherapy and cystectomy | EFS HR 0.68; OS HR 0.75. | |
PACIFIC-2 NCT03519971 | 3 | Negative | Unresectable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer: durvalumab or placebo given together with platinum chemoradiotherapy and continued afterwards | Concurrent durvalumab with chemoradiotherapy did not significantly improve progression-free survival over chemoradiotherapy alone. | |
| 3 | Active | A Phase III, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Multi-center International Study of Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant Durvalumab for the Treatment of Patients With Resectable Stages II and III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (AEGEAN) | Perioperative durvalumab with neoadjuvant platinum chemotherapy improved event-free survival (hazard ratio 0.69, 95 percent confidence interval 0.55 to 0.88 at the second interim analysis) and pathological complete response in resectable stage II to IIIB(N2) non-small-cell lung cancer. | ||
BEATcc / ENGOT-Cx10 / GOG-3030 NCT03556839 | 3 | Positive | Metastatic, persistent, or recurrent cervical cancer, first line: atezolizumab + cisplatin/carboplatin-paclitaxel + bevacizumab vs the same without atezolizumab | OS 32.1 vs 22.8 months (HR 0.68). | |
CALLA NCT03830866 | 3 | Negative | Locally advanced cervical cancer: cisplatin chemoradiotherapy with durvalumab or placebo, durvalumab continued for up to two years | Durvalumab added to chemoradiotherapy did not significantly improve progression-free survival in locally advanced cervical cancer. | |
CONTACT-03 NCT04338269 | 3 | Negative | Advanced RCC progressing on or after a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor: atezolizumab + cabozantinib vs cabozantinib | PFS HR 1.03; OS HR 0.94, negative. | |
DUO-E / GOG-3041 / ENGOT-EN10 NCT04269200 | 3 | Positive | Newly diagnosed advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer: chemotherapy + durvalumab, then durvalumab ± olaparib maintenance, vs chemotherapy | PFS HR 0.42 (dMMR, durvalumab); 0.57 (pMMR, durvalumab + olaparib). | |
DUO-O / ENGOT-ov46 NCT03737643 | 3 | Mixed | Newly diagnosed non-BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer: chemotherapy + bevacizumab + durvalumab, then durvalumab + bevacizumab ± olaparib maintenance, vs standard | PFS HR 0.63; interim OS HR 0.95. | |
IMbrave050 NCT04102098 | 3 | Negative | Adjuvant atezolizumab + bevacizumab vs active surveillance after resection or ablation of high-risk HCC | Interim RFS HR 0.72; benefit not sustained at update. |
Mutations in B2M or HLA class I stop tumour cells displaying antigen; JAK1/2 loss removes interferon responsiveness (and PD-L1 induction).
No pre-existing T-cell infiltrate (cold tumour) or T cells held at the margin by TGF-β and stroma.
Exhausted T cells co-express other inhibitory receptors.
MDSCs, M2 macrophages, and VEGF suppress T-cell function and dendritic-cell maturation.
Immunoediting removes the clones that carried immunogenic mutations.
How the immune system sees cancer, and how cancer learns to hide. Tumours display fragments of their proteins on MHC molecules; T cells kill the ones they recognise; the survivors are the ones that stopped showing fragments or switched on brakes.
Which nodes have drugs →This KEGG map shows how hepatitis viruses, alcohol and aflatoxin leave the liver with mutations in telomerase, TP53, Wnt/beta-catenin, PI3K/AKT/mTOR and the oxidative stress sensor NRF2, which together drive liver cancer. It matters because the map explains why liver cancer is treated mainly with angiogenesis blockers and immunotherapy rather than a single targeted drug.
Which nodes have drugs →The relay that turns cytokine signals into gene changes. Overactive in blood cancers (JAK2 in myelofibrosis), it is also the wire that carries interferon's cancer-killing message, so tumours cut it to escape immunotherapy.
Which nodes have drugs →Tumours recruit the body's clean-up cells (macrophages and immature myeloid cells) and re-train them as bodyguards. They switch off T cells, build vessels, and, when a therapeutic antibody flags a cancer cell for eating, are told 'don't eat me' by CD47 on its surface.
Which nodes have drugs →How T cells decide to attack. A T cell needs to see the target (TCR-MHC) and get a 'go' signal (CD28). PD-1 and CTLA-4 are 'stop' signals; tumours exploit them. Checkpoint inhibitors remove the stop.
Which nodes have drugs →| Assay | Platform | Cut-off | Gates |
|---|---|---|---|
| PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx Agilent (Dako) · FDA CDx 2015 | IHC | TPS at least 1% or at least 50% (NSCLC); CPS at least 1 (head and neck, oesophageal, gastric); CPS at least 10 (TNBC, gastric first line); CPS at least 1 (cervical) | |
| VENTANA PD-L1 (SP142) Assay Roche Diagnostics · FDA CDx 2016 | IHC | IC at least 5% (urothelial, historic); IC at least 1% (TNBC, indication later withdrawn); TC at least 50% or IC at least 10% (NSCLC) | |
| VENTANA PD-L1 (SP263) Assay Roche Diagnostics · FDA CDx | IHC | TC at least 1% (durvalumab after chemoradiotherapy, NSCLC; PACIFIC-derived) | |
| PD-L1 IHC 28-8 pharmDx Agilent (Dako) · FDA CDx 2020 | IHC | TC at least 1% (nivolumab plus ipilimumab, first-line NSCLC) | |
| Signatera (tumour-informed ctDNA MRD) Natera · Breakthrough device | NGS plasma | Two or more variants detected above the assay threshold defines ctDNA-positive (IMvigor011: adjuvant atezolizumab for ctDNA-positive bladder cancer) |
No model entry for this target yet; check the cancer entries on the models page.
Why unresolved. Each drug was approved with its own assay and threshold; concordance is good for tumour-cell scoring but poor for immune-cell and combined scores, so patients are classified differently by which kit the lab bought.
What would answer it. Cross-assay concordance studies tied to outcomes, digital calibration standards, and labels that accept validated equivalent assays.
Query for this target: (TITLE:"PD-L1" OR ABSTRACT:"PD-L1" OR TITLE:"CD274" OR ABSTRACT:"CD274") AND (cancer OR tumor OR tumour OR oncology OR carcinoma OR lymphoma OR leukemia OR leukaemia OR myeloma OR sarcoma OR melanoma OR glioma). Results are unfiltered search hits about PD-L1, not a curated reading list.
The dossier as machine-readable JSON, at /api/v1/dossiers/pdl1.json: identifiers from HGNC, Ensembl, UniProt and ChEMBL, products with status, trials, pathways, hotspots, open questions and assays. The full entity record is in the open API at /api/v1/entities/pdl1.json. Licence CC BY-NC 4.0.