• PD-1++ T cells showed a markedly different transcriptional and metabolic profile from PD-1+− and PD-1− lymphocytes, as well as an intrinsically high capacity for tumor recognition; • PD-1++ lymphocytes were impaired in classical effector cytokine production, they produced CXCL13, which mediates immune cell recruitment to tertiary lymphoid structures; • The presence of PD-1++ cells was strongly predictive for both response and survival. Here, PDCD1 is linked to neoplasm.