Likewise, tumor suppressor characteristics have been demonstrated for the paternally expressed gene Dlk1. In contrast to normal kidney tissue, loss of Dlk1 expression has been shown in renal cell carcinoma and re-expression of Dlk1 markedly increased anchorage-independent cell death and suppressed tumor growth in nude mice[29]. Here, DLK1 is linked to hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.