Although a number of ‘apoptosis-related’ genes in that study have been found to have a changed expression in RCC, this appears to relate largely to genes that have functions in the broader context of apoptosis induction (i.e. proteins whose impact on the intracellular equilibrium helps to determine the live-or-die decision, such as k-ras (Arber et al, 1997), klotho (Nagai et al, 2003) or thioredoxin (Baker et al, 1997)) rather than genes whose products make up the apoptosis pathway itself (for instance, Bcl-2-family members). Here, TXN is linked to renal cell carcinoma.