PD-L1
Description
The absence or presence of PD-L1 expression determines if the tumor will respond to treatment with a targeted inhibitor (immunotherapy). PD-L1 is done for Non-Small Cell lung cancers (NSCLC).
This test is usually done on metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. An assay is performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimen of at least 100 cells taken from the patient. The assay is used to determine the PD-L1 expression by IHC. Then the pathologist determines the tumor proportion score. The treating physician uses that information to determine what type of treatment the patient will receive.
Rationale
PD-L1 is recommended by treatment guidelines for lung cancer to determine if the patient may benefit from checkpoint inhibitor drugs (immunotherapy). **It is a new data item for cases diagnosed 1/1/2025+.**
Additional Info
**Source documents**: pathology report
For further information, refer to the **Lung Biomarker Reporting** cancer protocol published by the College of American Pathologists
Notes
**Note 1:** **Effective years**
* This SSDI is effective for diagnosis years 2025+
* For cases diagnosed 2018-2024, this SSDI must be blank
**Note 2:** **Physician Statement**
* Physician statement PD-L1 can be used to code this data item when no other information is available.
**Note 3:** **Purpose of PD-L1**
* The absence or presence of PD-L1 expression determines if the tumor will respond to treatment with a targeted inhibitor (immunotherapy). PD-L1 is done for Non-Small Cell lung cancers (NSCLC).
**Note 4:** **Tumor Proportion Score**
* PD-L1 is documented by the tumor proportion score. Record the actual Tumor Proportion Score (0.0-100.0) as stated from the pathology report.
* An actual tumor proportion score (.1-100.0) takes priority over XXX.2 (Stated as negative), XXX.3 (Stated as low), or XXX.4 (Stated as high/positive)
**Note 5:** **Neoadjuvant therapy** If neoadjuvant therapy is given, record the assay from tumor specimens prior to neoadjuvant therapy.
* If neoadjuvant therapy is given and there are no PD-L1 results from pre-treatment specimens, report the findings from post-treatment specimens
Default
XXX.8
Metadata
SSDI 2025–
| Code |
Description |
| 0.0 |
No PD-L1 expression identified
Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) = 0% |
| 0.1-100.0 |
0.1-100.0 PD-L1 expression
Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) = 0.1%-100.0% |
| XXX.2 |
PD-L1 expression absent **AND**
Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) stated as negative |
| XXX.3 |
PD-L1 expression present **AND**
Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) stated as low |
| XXX.4 |
PD-L1 expression present **AND**
Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) stated as high/positive |
| XXX.7 |
Test ordered, results not in chart |
| XXX.8 |
Not applicable: Information not collected for this case
(If this item is required by your standard setter, use of code 8 will result in an edit error) |
| XXX.9 |
Not documented in medical record
No microscopic confirmation of tumor
PD-L1 cannot be determined
PD-L1 not assessed or unknown if assessed |
| <BLANK> |
N/A - Diagnosis year is prior to 2025 |
