Renal cell carcinoma（RCC）is a common tumor of urinary system. The clinical prognosis ofadvanced RCC is poor. Targeted agents multi⁃target tyrosine kinase inhibitors（TKIs）and mammalian target ofrapamycin（mTOR）inhibitors are currently the main clinical treatment for advanced or metastatic RCC. Althoughprogression free survival（PFS）and overall survival（OS）of some patients are improved，treatment related adverseevents（TRAEs）and related drug resistance often lead to treatment interruption，which has limited the clinicalapplication of targeted agents. In recent years，the application of immune checkpoint inhibitors（ICIs）nivolumabin the treatment of patients with advanced RCC has achieved primary efficacy. We have reviewed the researchprogress of nivolumab in the treatment of advanced RCC.