Renal cell carcinomas from 31 patients (22 of which were confirmed clear cell renal cell carcinoma) were obtained from the CentreLeon Berard (Lyon, France) and were analyzed for mutations in the VHL gene. SSCP analysis of exon 2 and 3 and of a 450-nucleotide region in the last one third 3'-region of exon 1 of the VHL gene was used to detect mutations. Tumor 3087 (non metastatic) was taken via nephrectomy from a 68 year old male with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Two mutations were detected in this tumor sample. Comparison with peripheral blood leukocytes showed that the P61P (c.183C>G) mutation in exon 1 was present in non-tumor tissue as well, demonstrating that this is a germline mutation. This silent mutation was reported as a rare polymorphism in Sekido et al, 1994 (PMID: 8183553). A somatic mutation L181P (c.551T>C) in exon 3 was also detected in tumor 3087.