During CRC progression, TNM‐stage‐driven remodelling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) induced progressive CD8+ T cell exhaustion marked by declining TNFRSF18 and rising CXCL13 expression in tumour‐infiltrating T cells elevation of both markers in the tumour compared with adjacent tissues. The gene discussed is CXCL13; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.