PIK3CD and nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma: In the present study, comprehensive analysis of the prognostic significance of components of this pathway at the mRNA and protein level was performed in ∼500 ccRCC tissues using the K-M plotter, HPA and TCPA databases; it was found that the majority of the mRNAs (such as PTEN and AKT3) and several proteins [such as PTEN and p-AKT (S473) ] were favorable prognostic factors for ccRCC, which indicated that the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway may be implicated in ccRCC progression, which may also provide a potential therapeutic target for patients with ccRCC.