These results are in consistence with discoveries in hepatocellular and colon cancers16, 18, indicating that the reduction of PIK3R1 expression may acquired tumorigenicity in RCC, and thus supporting the view that PIK3R1 may function as a potential cancer suppressor, and that the downregulation of PIK3R1 may promote progression and metastasis of RCC. The gene discussed is PIK3R1; the disease is cancer.