Resistance to ICB has been associated with defects in genes relating to antigen presentation by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) molecules to CD8+ T lymphocytes2–4, mutations in the Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 and interferon (IFN) signalling pathways2,5,6, and clonal deletion of tumour-specific T cells7. Here, CD8A is linked to neoplasm.