Gayrard N et al. - Our studies characterize the 3p deletion as long and terminal and identify no interstitial deletion in that chromosome. Fhit and pVHL protein expression loss appear to be independent, as they can be dissociated. Our data are supportive of a role for FHIT (in addition to VHL) in renal tumorigenesis. No other gene with particular potential interest in renal tumorigenesis could be identified among the selected genes.