CD8A and cancer: HCC cells can reprogram the expression pattern of several ncRNAs as follows: (I) alter cancer cell immunogenicity by decreasing the exposure of cancer-associated antigens, (II) promote the immune exhaustion of CD8+ T cells by regulating the expression of immune checkpoint inhibitors, and (III) decrease the tumor infiltration of immune system cells such as CD8+ T cells, natural killer (NK) cells, dendritic cells (DCs), and macrophages by modulating the release of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines.