Figure 1 illustrates the interactions between Th17 cells and cervical cancer cells within the tumor microenvironment through various chemokines. Future studies should move beyond the assumption that IL-17 activity directly reflects Th17 cell function and instead focus on the interactions of Th17 cells with other immune populations in the tumor microenvironment such as Treg and CD8+ T cells as well as their dynamic balance and functional plasticity. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is cervical carcinoma.