Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) have been integrated into the standard of care for patients with various cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (2). Here, PDCD1 is linked to cancer.