Studies have recapitulated that anti-tumor response is more obvious in PD-L1 positive patients with advanced and metastatic esophageal cancer treated with anti-PD-1 agents 65, 66, as well as non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) treated with anti-PD-L1 therapy 67, 68. Here, PDCD1 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.