CD40 was found detectable in 2 of the 3 breast carcinoma cell lines (BCC), in all 6 renal cell carcinoma lines (RCC), in the HTB81 prostatic carcinoma and the HCT116 colon carcinoma cell lines as well as in 5 of 5 NHL cell lines tested (not shown). This evidence concerns the gene CD40 and renal cell carcinoma.