The parameters comprised (i) immunohistochemical scores for PD-L1 and PD-1 in immune and tumor cells, (ii) PD-L1-mRNA and PD-1-mRNA concentrations in the adjacent tissue slides, (iii) sPD-L1 and sPD-1 in blood serum, (iv) PD-L1-mRNA and PD-1-mRNA in whole blood RNA and (v) comparison of sPD-L1 and sPD-1 in blood before and after tumor resection. The gene discussed is PDCD1; the disease is neoplasm.