In summary, our data demonstrate that Tim-3+PD-1+CD8+ T cells represent a highly dysfunctional population of tumor-induced T cells in patients with advanced CRC and this cell population is significantly correlated with higher clinical stage, indiating strongly for further studies on the molecular mechanism of Tim-3-mediated immunosuppression, which may lead to novel treatments such as combining anti-Tim-3 with anti-PD-1 in CRC patients. Here, PDCD1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.