Using previously reported PD-L1 CPS cutoffs of 0–1, 1–5, and greater than 5, we observed a significantly improved CFS at low PD-L1 expression levels (0–1; 5-year CFS estimates: 79% vs. 62% vs. 37%, respectively; P < 0.01); recognizing that 26 of 27 (93%) of all localized leukoplakia tissue samples demonstrated such low PD-L1 CPS expression levels compared with 6 of 28 (21%) of proliferative leukoplakia tissue samples. Here, CD274 is linked to leukoplakia.