In addition to SPINT2, four further genes (CDH1, PLAU, IGFB3 and MT1G) had previously been reported to undergo promoter region hypermethylation in RCC tumours (Yoshiura et al, 1995; Morris et al, 2003; Ibanez de Caceres et al, 2006). This evidence concerns the gene SPINT2 and renal cell carcinoma.