CD274 and cancer: For example, SOX2, a cancer stemness-related transcription factor being elevated in HCC tissues, has been shown to directly bind to the consensus sequence of the PD-L1 promoter and drives PD-L1 transcription.123 On the other hand, a positive correlation between the expression of IL-6 and PD-L1 has also been observed in HCC patients.124 Activation of the IL-6/Janus kinase-1 pathway could support the protein glycosylation and stabilisation of the PD-L1 receptor and facilitates its immunosuppressive function.