PD-L1 and HLA Class I Antigen Expression and Clinical Course of the Disease in Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Abstract

ICC patients are likely to mount a T-cell immune response against their own tumors. Defects in HLA class I antigen expression in combination with PD-L1 expression by ICC cells provide them with an immune escape mechanism. This mechanism justifies the implementation of immunotherapy with checkpoint molecule-specific mAbs in patients bearing ICC tumors without defects in HLA class I antigen expression.