Importantly, while the number of CD3+ TILs at either the tumor center or margin was not affected by anti-PD-1 (Fig. 6d and Additional file 5: Figure S4c), prime/boost-elicited OVA-specific CD8+ TALs produced significantly more IFN-γ following PD-1 blockade in response to ex vivo peptide stimulation (Fig. 6e), demonstrating that improved therapeutic efficacy was driven by enhanced T cell function and not simply increased TIL/TAL number. The gene discussed is IFNG; the disease is neoplasm.