In the CheckMate 040 trial [67], patients receiving nivolumab and having HCC tumor tissues with inflammatory signature GEP consisting of CD274 (PD-L1), CD8α, LAG3, and STAT1, had improved objective response rate (ORR) and OS, suggesting the possibility of a relationship between underlying inflammation within the tumor environments and improved clinical outcomes. Here, CD8A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.