In summary, this study demonstrates that tumor cell-intrinsic PD-L1 function induces EMT by TGFβ and promotes progression and metastasis of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo and that the predictive role of EMT in ICI therapy in patients with NSCLC depends on the PD-L1 expression status. This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.