When checking tumour growth, a number of observations indicate that the immune system plays a significant role in patients with RCC. Infiltration by lymphocytes (tumour infiltrating lymphocytes, 'TILs') is more prevalent in RCC than any other tumours.
T lymphocytes are the dominant population of TIL cells. View concerning the role of T lymphocytic subpopulations, B lymphocytes and NK cells in an anti-tumour response are discussed.