Specifically, an inflammatory environment is a positive prognostic indicator for responsiveness to immune checkpoint therapy with CTLA4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4; CD152) or PD1/PDL1 (programmed cell death 1/programmed cell death ligand 1; CD279/CD274) targeting antibodies because these agents remove key components of the immune blockade that suppress tumor-directed effector T cells from mounting an anti-tumor response (8). The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is neoplasm.