PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was activated when incubated with CXCL13, and suppressed when CXCR5 was downregulated, suggesting that CXCL13/CXCR5 promoted ccRCC progression partly through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Here, CXCR5 is linked to nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma.