In addition, RNA sequencing analysis of PD-L1 inhibitor-resistant NSCLC patients revealed the presence of PD-L1 variant fragments (v242 and v229, which retain the PD-1 binding domain) in vivo and in peripheral blood and pleural effusion, resistant patients with variant had much higher sPD-L1 concentrations. Here, PDCD1 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.