Previous studies have revealed that nuclear pAMPK can function in either an inhibitory or a stimulatory manner in renal cell carcinoma, depending on context: the oncogenic function of nuclear AMPK is confined to glucose-deprived renal cell carcinoma cells, whereas regular tumor-suppressive functions predominate under usual conditions [14]. This evidence concerns the gene PRKAA1 and hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.