RNA in situ hybridization analysis showed that TMEM174 is highly expressed in some types of renal cancer, such as squamous cell carcinoma with necrosis, papillary renal cell carcinoma and transitional cell carcinoma, and that TMEM174 is expressed in the majority of renal cancers and pyelonephritis (data not shown). The gene discussed is TMEM174; the disease is papillary renal cell carcinoma.