Since XIAP expression is known to be regulated transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally (Tamm et al, 2000; Holcik et al, 2001; Hofmann et al, 2002), we also performed Western blot analysis in 12 arbitrarily selected RCC tumour samples of early and advanced tumour stages (pT1: n=6, pT3: n=6). Here, XIAP is linked to neoplasm.