Other cancers frequently related to VHL disease are clear-cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) and phaeochromocytomas (PCCs), amongst other tumours of the kidney, epididymis and pancreas.31 Biallelic inactivation of vhl is embryonic lethal in mice (vhl−/−) owing to placental vasculogenesis deficiency, whereas heterozygous vhl mice (vhl+/−) are viable. This evidence concerns the gene VHL and clear cell renal carcinoma.