Since RT remains the mainstay in treatment of head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) patients, we combined EphB4-ephrin-B2 inhibitor with RT in our tumor model and observed further increase in CD8 and CD4 T cell infiltrates and activation status, and a significant decline in circulating IL-10 and TGF-β1 levels compared to the control group. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.