Considering the synergistic effect of immunotherapy plus anti-angiogenic therapy,35,36 a recent study found that apatinib could potentiate the anti-tumour effect of a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor in the lung cancer mouse model by optimising the tumour microenvironment.37 In a preliminary investigation, they found an objective response rate of 55.6% in patients with NSCLC and a low incidence of PD-L1 expression. The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.