Figure 3.

Prognostic significance of PD-L1⁺ CTCs and CD8⁺ PD-1⁺/PD-L1⁺ CTCs in patients with NSCLC.

Kaplan–Meier plots of PFS in patients according to (a) PD-L1⁺ CTCs presence or absence and (b) both the percentages of CD8⁺ PD-1⁺ and the presence of PD-L1⁺ CTCs. The presence of PD-L1⁺ CTCs were correlated with worse PFS (p = 0.036) and low levels of CD8⁺ PD-1⁺/PD-L1⁺ CTCs were associated with improved PFS (p = 0.007); blue line: no PD-L1⁺ CTCs or CD8⁺ PD-1⁺ below mean and no presence of PD-L1⁺ CTCs, green line: PD-L1⁺ CTCs or CD8⁺ PD-1⁺ above mean and presence of PD-L1⁺ CTCs.

CTC, circulating tumor cell; NSCLC, non-small cell lung cancer; PD-1, programmed cell death receptor 1; PFS, progression-free survival.