Currently, different types of monoclonal antibodies targeting PD-1 or PD-L1, including nivolumab for NSCLC with squamous cell histology [3] and non-squamous cell histology [4] in the second-line setting, pembrolizumab for NSCLC with high PD-L1 expression (≥ 50%) in the first-line setting [5] or in the second-line setting for tumors with 1–49% PD-L1 expression [6], and atezolizumab for all subtypes of NSCLC in the second-line setting [7], are available. Here, PDCD1 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.