In addition to normalizing the tumor-killing activities of T cells by blocking PD-L1/PD-1 signaling or B7/CTLA-4 signaling, the strategies to rescue the existing antitumor immune response that is suppressed in cancers should also include the blockade of immune checkpoints that inhibit the functions of APCs, since the presentation of tumor antigens by APCs is critical for T cell cross-priming. The gene discussed is PDCD1; the disease is cancer.