Expression of nectin-4 in papillary renal cell carcinoma

Background Nectin-4 contributes to tumor proliferation, lymphangiogenesis and angiogenesis in malignant tumors and is an emerging target in tumor therapy. In renal cell carcinoma (RCC) VEGF-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitors and checkpoint inhibitors are currently treatments of choice. Enfortumab vedotin-ejf (EV) is an antibody drug conjugate that targets Nectin-4. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of Nectin-4 in a large cohort of papillary RCC specimens. Patients and methods Specimens were derived from the PANZAR consortium (Erlangen, Heidelberg, Herne, Homburg, Mainz, Mannheim, Marburg, Muenster, LMU Munich, TU Munich, and Regensburg). Clinical data and tissue samples from n = 190 and n = 107 patients with type 1 and 2 pRCC, respectively, were available. Expression of Nectin-4 was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results In total, Nectin-4 staining was moderately or strongly positive in of 92 (48.4%) of type 1 and 39 (36.4%) type 2 of pRCC cases. No associations between Nectin-4 expression and age at diagnosis, gender, grading, and TNM stage was found. 5 year overall survival rate was not statistically different in patients with Nectin-4 negative versus Nectin-4 positive tumors for the overall cohort and the pRCC type 2 subgroup, but higher in patient with Nectin-4 positive pRCC type 1 tumors compared to Nectin-4 negative tumors (81.3% vs. 67.8%, p = 0.042). Conclusion Nectin-4 could not be confirmed as a prognostic marker in pRCC in general. Due to its high abundance on pRCC specimens Nectin-4 is an interesting target for therapeutical approaches e.g. with EV. Clinical trials are warranted to elucidate its role in the pRCC treatment landscape.