Notably, we found that sLAG3 and sCD28 negatively correlated with T cell cytolytic score (rho = − 0.31 and − 0.33, P = 0.05 and 0.04, respectively) in our primary ccRCC tumors (Fig. 2b, Additional file 1: Table S6), whereas sPDL1 positively correlated with cytolytic score based on GZMB and PRF1 expression (Additional file 1: Table S7). This evidence concerns the gene LAG3 and nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma.