miR-122-5p was upregulated in primary renal tumors, but was observed downregulated during the metastatic process, a special finding also described by Wotschofsky et al. 33 miR-122 acted in ccRCC cells as oncomir through activation of the PI3K/Akt signal pathway34 and was identified to target the VHL-HIF-hypoxia pathway29. This evidence concerns the gene AKT1 and nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma.