EGFR-TKI down-regulates PD-L1 in EGFR mutant NSCLC through inhibiting NF-κB

• NSCLCs with mutated EGFR express higher PD-L1 than that with wild type EGFR.
• Gefitinib, one of EGFR-TKIs, inhibits PD-L1 expression in NSCLCs.
• EGF enhances while gefitinib reduces PD-L1 in NSCLCs via NF-κB pathway.

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a severe disease threatening human health. Targeted therapy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has obtained potent efficacy in the treatment of NSCLC patients. However, the effects of EGFR-TKIs on tumor immune microenvironment are unclear. In this study, we show that NSCLCs with EGFR mutation express higher programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) than NSCLCs with wild type EGFR. The EGFR activation is also associated with high expression of PD-L1. The EGFR-TKI gefitinib can reduce PD-L1 expression, via inhibiting NF-κB, in EGFR mutant NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. These findings elucidate a novel anti-tumor mechanism of EGFR-TKI and provide the possibility of combined strategy of targeted therapy and immunotherapy for EGFR mutant NSCLC patients.