VHL and nonpapillary renal cell carcinoma: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the most prevalent pathological subtype of kidney cancer (accounting for 70–80% of renal cell carcinoma cases) (1) and is characterized by inactivation of the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene and dysregulation of hypoxia-related signaling pathways (2).