Here, we have shown that physapubescin, at concentrations of 2.5 μM and 5 μM, selectively induces apoptosis in 786-O, RCC4 and A498 VHL-null RCC cell lines, but it has a minimal apoptotic effect on the wild-type Caki-2 RCC cell line. This evidence concerns the gene VHL and renal cell carcinoma.