We show here that ex vivo expansion of CD8+ T cells specific for an oncogenic virus antigen and a tumor-associated antigen (TAA) is enhanced by using combined blockade of PD-L1 and the immune checkpoint T cell immunoglobulin and mucin-containing protein 3 (TIM3), whereas single blockade of either receptor failed to improve T cell expansion. The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is neoplasm.