Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) has been associated with a predominantly durable objective response rate of around 50% in metastatic melanoma patients [1, 2], while immune checkpoint-blocking antibodies targeting cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) have been associated with objective response rates of 10–20% (for anti-CTLA4), 30–45% (for anti-PD-1) and 50–60% for the anti-CTLA4/PD-1 combination [3, 4]. The gene discussed is PDCD1; the disease is neoplasm.