Comparing CD8 T cells present in blood versus tumor revealed that the most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) found in blood were characteristic of naïve T cells (eg, LEF1, TCF7, SELL), while genes present in the TME were consistent with activated T-cell phenotypes, such as CD69, STAT1, and CXCR4 (figure 5B). This evidence concerns the gene CXCR4 and neoplasm.