Heterogeneous PD-L1-positive RCC determined by molecular subtyping showed increased PFS with checkpoint inhibition versus sunitinib in the JAVELIN Renal 101 (P = 3.3E − 04; HR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.36 − 0.75) and IMmotion151 trials (P = 0.047; HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.48 − 1). Here, CD274 is linked to renal cell carcinoma.