Although studies have logically shown the increased presence of exhausted CD8+ T cells (Tex) in tumors due to the immunosuppressive environment27,28, we found no significant difference in Tex proportions between healthy adjacent and tumor (Diff = 3.2%, p = 0.088), with even activated CD8+ cells in the tumor surpassing the Tex proportion (Fig. 2c). Here, CD8A is linked to neoplasm.