Analysis of the immunological markers BTLA, TIM-3, and PD-L1 at the invasion front and tumor center in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

The present results show heterogeneous intratumoral and intertumoral expression of the investigated checkpoint receptors PD-L1, BTLA, and TIM-3. In the clinical practice tumor sampling should include different tumor locations, and multiple inhibition of different checkpoint receptors seems reasonable to increase the therapeutic success.