The mean within group PD-L1+ difference (tumor − normal adjacent densities) was 0.005 mm2/mm2 (95% CI (− 0.012, 0.022) in the treated and − 0.049 mm2/mm2 (95% CI − 0.248, 0.151) in the control groups, suggesting a greater overall PD-L1+ decrease in the treated tissue; however, it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.56) (Fig. 5b, Table 5). This evidence concerns the gene CD274 and neoplasm.