This checkpoint is a crucial inhibitor of anticancer T‐cell responses in the tumor microenvironment.253 Interestingly, activation of autophagy using mTOR inhibitor rapamycin decreased the expression of PD‐L1 in lung cancer cells in vitro and in vivo, whereas activation of mTOR increased expression of PD‐L1.254 Correspondingly, almost all human lung cancer patient samples (~90%) expressing PD‐L1 were characterized by increased mTOR signaling, whereas the majority (83%) of tumors negative for PD‐L1 also stained negative for active mTOR. This evidence concerns the gene CD274 and lung carcinoma.