High expression of EGFR is considered to be an unfavourable prognostic factor in patients with a variety of tumours (Lieberman et al, 1985; Slamon et al, 1987; Neal et al, 1990), including renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (Uhlman et al, 1995; Yoshida et al, 1997). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.