VHL and renal cell carcinoma: Since previous studies had found a correlation of CXCR4 expression on metastatic RCC cells, but had not shown a direct link of CXCL12 and metastasis of CXCR4-expressing RCC cells, we then examined whether VHL knockdown, and subsequently CXCR4 expression, could change the metastatic potential of these human RCC cell lines in SCID mice.