IM-PD/SU-treated group showed increased expression of immune checkpoint molecules on CD3+ T cells or DOG-1+ tumour cells compared to TKI-naive or IM-PD groups; PD-1 expression of CD3+ T cells (p = 0.03 vs TKI-naive and p = 0.003 vs IM-PD: Fig. 3a), PD-L1 expression of DOG-1+ tumour cells (p = 0.02 vs TKI-naive and p = 0.006 vs IM-PD: Fig. 3c), TIM-3 expression of CD3+ T cells (p = 0.01 vs TKI-naive and p = 0.002 vs IM-PD: Fig. 3d), LAG3 expression of CD3+ T cells (p = 0.001 vs TKI-naive and p = 0.004 vs IM-PD: Fig. 3e). Here, PDCD1 is linked to neoplasm.