Indeed, the expression of PD-L1 independently correlated with all clinicopathological markers of poor TC prognosis 5: such as male gender, an age > 45 years 49, 50, 69, tumor size (including extra-thyroid or multifocal lesions) 36, 49, 57, 63, 66, 69, lymphovascular invasion and lymph node metastasis 34, 36, 49, 62, 64, 65, 69, 70, or TNM stage 48, 50, 63. Here, CD274 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.