<br>        Inclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Has histologically confirmed diagnosis of RCC with clear cell component with or<br>             without sarcomatoid features.<br><br>          -  Has locally advanced/metastatic disease (i.e., newly diagnosed Stage IV RCC per<br>             American Joint Committee on Cancer) or has recurrent disease.<br><br>          -  Has measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the investigator/site<br>             radiologist.<br><br>          -  Has received no prior systemic therapy for advanced RCC.<br><br>          -  Has provided archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy<br>             of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated.<br><br>          -  Has Karnofsky performance status (KPS) = 70% as assessed within 10 days prior to<br>             randomization.<br><br>          -  If receiving bone resorptive therapy (including but not limited to bisphosphonate or<br>             RANK-L inhibitor) must have therapy initiated at least 2 weeks prior to randomization.<br><br>          -  Demonstrates adequate organ function.<br><br>          -  Female participants of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate<br>             method of contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last<br>             dose of study drug.<br><br>          -  Male participants of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of<br>             contraception, starting with the first dose of study drug through 120 days after the<br>             last dose of study drug.<br><br>        Exclusion Criteria:<br><br>          -  Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational<br>             agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to randomization.<br><br>          -  Has had major surgery within 4 weeks, received radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior<br>             to randomization, or has not recovered (i.e., = Grade 1 or at baseline) from AEs due<br>             to prior treatment.<br><br>          -  Has had prior treatment with any anti-programmed cell death (anti-PD-1), or programmed<br>             cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), or PD-L2 agent or an antibody targeting any other<br>             immune-regulatory receptors or mechanisms.<br><br>          -  Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy for RCC with vascular endothelial<br>             growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF receptors (VEGFR) or mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)<br>             targeting agents.<br><br>          -  Has a history of severe hypersensitivity reaction (e.g., generalized rash/erythema,<br>             hypotension, bronchospasm, angioedema or anaphylaxis) to axitinib or sunitinib.<br><br>          -  Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency OR is receiving a systemic steroid therapy<br>             exceeding physiologic corticosteroid dose or any other form of immunosuppressive<br>             therapy within 7 days prior to randomization, except in the case of central nervous<br>             system (CNS) metastases.<br><br>          -  Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment with in the past 2 years<br>             OR a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease. Note: Participants<br>             with vitiligo, Sjøgren's syndrome, Type 1 diabetes, resolved childhood asthma/atopy,<br>             hypothyroidism or adrenal or pituitary insufficiency who are stable on hormone<br>             replacement, are not excluded.<br><br>          -  Has a known additional malignancy that has progressed or has required active treatment<br>             in the last 3 years. Note: Basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma<br>             of the skin, superficial bladder cancer, or carcinoma in situ such as breast cancer in<br>             situ are acceptable if they have undergone potentially curative therapy.<br><br>          -  Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.<br><br>          -  Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current<br>             pneumonitis.<br><br>          -  Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.<br><br>          -  Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).<br><br>          -  Has known active Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection.<br><br>          -  Has received a live virus vaccine within 30 days of randomization.<br><br>          -  Has a clinically significant gastrointestinal (GI) abnormality including:<br><br>          -  Malabsorption, total gastric resection<br><br>          -  Or any condition that might affect the absorption of orally taken medication<br><br>          -  Active GI bleeding, as evidenced by hematemesis, hematochezia or melena in the past 3<br>             months without evidence of resolution documented by endoscopy or colonoscopy<br><br>          -  Intraluminal metastatic lesion with suspected bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease,<br>             ulcerative colitis or other GI condition associated with increased risk of perforation<br><br>          -  Has QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) =480 msec.<br><br>          -  Has a history of any of the following cardiovascular conditions within 12 months of<br>             randomization:<br><br>          -  Myocardial infarction<br><br>          -  Unstable angina pectoris<br><br>          -  Cardiac angioplasty or stenting<br><br>          -  Coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft<br><br>          -  Class III or IV congestive heart failure per New York Heart Association<br><br>          -  Cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack<br><br>          -  Has a history of deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within 6 months of<br>             screening.<br><br>          -  Has poorly controlled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) =150 mm Hg<br>             and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) =90 mm Hg.<br><br>          -  Has evidence of inadequate wound healing.<br><br>          -  Has active bleeding disorder or other history of significant bleeding episodes within<br>             30 days of randomization.<br><br>          -  Has hemoptysis within 6 weeks prior to randomization.<br><br>          -  Has current use (within 7 days of randomization) or anticipated need for treatment<br>             with drugs or foods that are known strong cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4/5) inhibitors.<br><br>          -  Has current use (within 7 days of randomization) or anticipated need for treatment<br>             with drugs that are known strong CYP3A4/5 inducers, including but not limited to<br>             carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, rifabutin, rifampin, and St. John's wort; or<br>             drugs that are known with proarrhythmic potential.<br><br>          -  Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with<br>             cooperation with the requirements of the study.<br><br>          -  Has had a prior solid organ transplant.<br><br>          -  Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the<br>             projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days<br>             after the last dose of study drug.<br>