Further, N/OFQ interacts with nociceptin receptor (NOP) in cancer, and promotes the proliferation and invasion of tumor cells via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway35, it also functions as an immune inhibitor by binding the N/OFQ peptide receptor on the surface of circulating immune cells36 or inhibiting the activation of DCs37. The gene discussed is OPRL1; the disease is cancer.