Using PD-L1 as a Biomarker of Response

Clinical Pearls

Michael A. Postow, MD, attending physician, Melanoma and Immunotherapeutics Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses using PD-L1 as a biomarker of response in melanoma.

• There remains a need to determine the utility of PD-L1 as a biomarker of response to PD-1-inhibiting agents.
• Patients with high levels of PD-L1 within their tumor are more likely to respond to PD-1-inhibiting agents.
• Patients that do not express PD-L1 can still benefit from PD-1 blockade.
• Regardless of PD-L1 status, patients will be given the option of being treated with PD-1-inhibiting agents until more data are available.