Programmed cell death-1/programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-[L]1) inhibitors and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) combination treatments have been widely applied in the first-line treatment of patients with unresectable HCC (uHCC) (4–6). The gene discussed is PDCD1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.