Background: Programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 pathway is one of the immune checkpoint pathways involved in regulation of the immune responses and suppression of anti-tumor defense. PD-1/B7-H1-blocking antibodies improve immune responses such as cytotoxic activity of CD8+/CD4+T cells and also increase mortality of tumor cells; however their use is accompanied by adverse effects in pat...