اعلام University of Babylon | Board Candidate Discussion at Babylon Medical College for Fellowship of the Iraqi Board of Pathology

اعلام University of Babylon - كلية الادارة والاقتصاد

Board Candidate Discussion at Babylon Medical College for Fellowship of the Iraqi Board of Pathology

By : Zaynab Kadhim Ameen Awadh

Date : 28/2/2025 45:00:08 PM

Board Candidate Discussion at Babylon Medical College for Fellowship of the Iraqi Board of Pathology
As part of the requirements for obtaining the Fellowship of the Iraqi Board for Medical Specializations in Pathology (Histopathology), a research proposal discussion was held at the Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Babylon for board candidate Sara Riyadh Rasool. Her research, titled:
“The Clinicopathological Significance of Immunohistochemical Expression of PD-L1 Protein in Colorectal Cancer in a Sample of Iraqi Patients”,
was supervised by Prof. Dr. Ali Zaki Naji and Consultant Dr. Raad Fadel Mohammed.
Study Background
The researcher highlighted that colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The epidemiology of CRC varies among different populations, likely due to differences in lifestyle and environmental exposure to CRC-related risk factors.
She further explained that prevention is the most effective approach for controlling colorectal cancer. The first-line treatment involves comprehensive surgical intervention and adjuvant chemotherapy; however, tumor recurrence and metastasis are the primary reasons for treatment failure.
PD-L1 (Programmed Death-Ligand 1) is a key physiological checkpoint ligand of the programmed death receptor (PD-1). The PD-1/PD-L1 interaction plays a significant role in suppressing the immune response, allowing cancer cells to evade anti-tumor immunity. Immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors, such as anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies, has become an emerging treatment strategy for various types of cancers.
Study Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of PD-L1 in colorectal cancer and correlate its expression with various clinicopathological parameters.
Key Findings
• PD-L1 expression was positive in 27% of CRC cases and negative in 73% of cases.
• Among the PD-L1 positive cases, 12% exhibited a high level of PD-L1 expression.
• A significant correlation was found between PD-L1 expression and lymphovascular invasion, advanced tumor stage, and malignant involvement of regional lymph nodes.
Conclusion
The study concluded that PD-L1 plays a role in the progression of colorectal cancer, and its high expression is associated with advanced disease stages. Targeting PD-L1 expression in cancer cells could serve as an effective therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer treatment

Written By: Abbas Mejeed