Scroll Back to Top
PD-L1

PD-L1 IHC Testing

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

Overexpression of PD-L1 has been observed in many carcinomas including lung, urothelial, gastroesphageal junction, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), cervical, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and melanoma

Tumor PD-L1 expression levels have been shown to be a predictive marker with response to several anti-PD1 antibodies1,2

PD-L1 IHC Testing

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapies

Biomarker AssayCancer TypeImmunotherapyScoring Cut-off
PD-L1 DAKO (22C3) 
Companion Diagnostic Test
First-line treatment locally advanced or
metastatic NSCLC
LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc)PD-L1 expression: TPS* ≥50%1
First-line treatment locally advanced or
metastatic NSCLC
KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)PD-L1 expression: TPS* ≥1%2
Previously treated recurrent or metastatic cervical cancerPD-L1 expression: CPS◊ ≥1%2
First-line treatment metastatic or recurrent SCCHNPD-L1 expression: CPS◊ ≥1%2
Previously treated locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinomaPD-L1 expression: CPS◊ ≥10%2
In combination with chemotherapy in locally
recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC
PD-L1 expression: CPS◊ ≥10%2
PD-L1 DAKO (28-8)
Companion Diagnostic
First-line treatment metastatic NSCLCOPDIVO® (nivolumab)
in combination with
YERVOY® (ipilimumab)
PD-L1 expression in ≥1% TC¤3
PD-L1 DAKO (28-8)
Complementary Diagnostic
Previously treated metastatic non-squamous
NSCLC
OPDIVO® (nivolumab)PD-L1 expression in ≥1% or ≥5% or ≥10% TC¤4
Previously treated recurrent or metastatic SCCHNPD-L1 expression in ≥1% TC¤4
Previously treated locally advanced or metastatic
urothelial carcinoma
PD-L1 expression in ≥1% TC¤4
PD-L1 VENTANA® (SP263)
Companion Diagnostic
Previously treated Stage II to IIIA NSCLCTECENTRIQ® (atezolizumab)PD-L1 expression in ≥1% TC5
First-line treatment locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC LIBTAYO® (cemiplimab-rwlc)PD-L1 expression in ≥50% TC¤1

NSCLC: non-small cell lung cancer 
SCCHN: squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck 
TNBC: Triple negative breast cancer 
*TPS: tumor proportional score 
◊CPS: combined positive score=[# of PD-L1 staining cells (tumor cells, lymphocytes, macrophages) divided by the total # of viable tumor cells] *100 
¤TC: PD-L1 expressing tumor cells
#IC: PD-L1 expressing tumor-infiltrating immune cells