Our data would predict that a similar differential imbalance between pro (Bax)-/anti (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, Xiap)-apoptotic proteins is likely to occur within the subset of TAA-specific (but not bulk or viral-specific) CD4+ T cells in the peripheral blood of melanoma or RCC patients with AD. The gene discussed is XIAP; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.