Expression Analysis Of CTLA-4, PD-1 And PD-L1 In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, despite therapeutic advances. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 have shown considerable promise by enhancing the immune system’s ability to recognize and attack tumor cells. Assessing the expression of these markers is critical for predicting patient response and tailoring immunotherapy strategies. While immunohistochemistry is commonly used to evaluate protein expression in tumor tissues, quantitative PCR (qPCR) offers greater sensitivity and precision for measuring gene expression levels.

In this study, qPCR was employed to quantify CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 expression in NSCLC tumor samples collected prior to immunotherapy. The goal was to identify expression patterns correlated with positive treatment outcomes, contributing to the development of predictive biomarkers that can better inform and personalize immunotherapy decisions for NSCLC patients.