Serum-soluble CD95 (sCD95) levels for 72 renal cell cancer patients were significantly higher than those of 17 healthy donors. Twenty-one of 72 patients had elevated (defined as more than mean of healthy donors + 2 s.d.) sCD95. The disease-specific survival rate was significantly lower in the elevated sCD95 group. Serum sCD95 level was shown to be an independent prognostic factor by univariate and multivariate analysis, indicating a possible significant role in determining treatment strategies.