Like in NSCLC patients7,20,23,24, chronic COPD-like inflammation associated with a heterogeneous immune cell population characterized by the presence-of neutrophils, the expression of PD-1 in CD8 T cells and the presence of PD-1+, CD4+, and CD8+ cells in the tumor microenvironment. This evidence concerns the gene PDCD1 and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.