In addition, given the increased roles of anti-PD-1/anti-PD-L1 immunotherapies in early-stage and advanced-stage NSCLC, our data imply that DRD2 and nAChR might be potential molecular biomarkers along with PD-L1 to guide treatment decisions in NSCLC patients in the future. This evidence concerns the gene PDCD1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.