HIF-inducible erythropoietin (EPO) and EPO-Receptor (EPO-R) are co-localized in VHL-associated HBs12 and renal-cell carcinoma (RCC)13 suggesting that autocrine/paracrine EPO/EPO-R signaling loop may underlie RCC formation14. The gene discussed is EPO; the disease is hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.