Our results showed markedly increased metastases of human RCC cells in an organ-specific manner to adrenal glands, buffy coat, bone marrow, brain, kidney, spleen, liver and the lungs of mice bearing SN12C-VHL-KD tumors, as compared to those bearing SN12C-VC tumors, in both heterotopic and orthotopic tumor models, using a sensitive analysis of GFP as a marker of metastatic human cells in murine organs. The gene discussed is VHL; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.