# REFINE: a database of linked clinical data and genomic biomarkers in renal cell carcinoma patients receiving immunotherapy-based treatment regimens

**Authors:** Jeffrey Zhong, Albert Jang, Bashar Abuqayas, Arnab Basu, David J Benjamin, Vineel Bhatlapenumarthi, Mehmet Asim Bilen, Dhvani Buch, Mark Chang, Erica Chin, Sourat Darabi, Nagendra Dhanikonda, Pooja Ghatalia, Claud M Grigg, Abby L Grier, Tanya Jindal, Joannah Jung, Deepak Kilari, Hamsa L S Kumar, Suzanna Lee, Brittany Neelands, Chinmayi Pandya, Jeff Pawelek, Jaimee Staggers, Ahmet Yildirim, Yousef Zakharia, Kevin K Zarrabi, Michael Zimmerman, George Sledge, David Spetzler, Andrew Elliott, Rana R McKay, Pedro C Barata

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/oncolo/oyaf135 · 2025-06-19

## TL;DR

The REFINE database combines clinical and genomic data from kidney cancer patients to improve personalized immunotherapy treatments.

## Contribution

REFINE integrates real-world clinical and genomic data to identify biomarkers for personalized immunotherapy in renal cell carcinoma.

## Key findings

- The database explores biomarkers that could guide treatment for different molecular subtypes of RCC.
- It investigates how race and ethnicity affect treatment outcomes in underrepresented patient populations.
- Findings may help optimize the sequencing of immunotherapy treatments for better patient outcomes.

## Abstract

The REnal cancer consortium for Focused Investigation of Novel biomarkers and Expression (REFINE) consortium represents an important initiative in integrating clinical data with molecular sequencing in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with immunotherapy-based approaches. By leveraging real-world evidence and genomic analysis, this consortium aims to explore putative predictive biomarkers with the potential to inform personalized treatment strategies. Findings from the REFINE database may further contribute to our understanding of disease courses of immunotherapy-based approaches for various molecular subtypes of RCC, associations of race and ethnicity with RCC treatment and outcomes with representation of patient populations underrepresented in clinical trials, and optimizing treatment sequencing.

## Linked entities

- **Diseases:** renal cell carcinoma (MONDO:0005086), RCC (MONDO:0005086)

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** RCC (MESH:D002292), cancer (MESH:D009369)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12204391