Recently, checkpoint immunotherapies with the immune checkpoint blockers such as anti-programmed death 1 (anti-PD-1) and anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1) antibodies have significantly improved the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with the platinum- or docetaxel-based chemotherapies for NSCLC patients15,16. The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is non-small cell lung carcinoma.