In an exploratory post hoc analysis in six patients with adequate quality tissue for correlative studies, higher baseline CD8+ cell infiltration by immunohistochemistry was present in PFS responders (data not shown), results that are in line with prior observations.33 Immune dysfunction is a hallmark of advanced HCC34 despite the presence of tumour-specific immune responses in some patients.35 Previously published data from our group reveal that anti-VEGF agents have immunomodulatory properties that are dose and time dependent. This evidence concerns the gene VEGFA and neoplasm.