Several studies have reported that nCRT could activate anti-tumour immunity by increasing the number of CD8+ TILs, which is associated with better outcomes.61, 62, 63 The CRT-induced immune activity is also related to microsatellite instability (MSI) status, methylation level and HLA class I expression.64, 65, 66 However, all the patients in ARISTOTLE-RC B2 are microsatellite-stable, and only 1% of them show HLA class I expression, leaving us unable to validate those findings in this study. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is neoplasm.