In a case-control study, 20 cases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) were analyzed by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence in order to establish the concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn and Cd. Patients with RCC were examined and compared with 7 controls from selected autopsies. A significant decrease in Cd and Zn concentration was found in the neoplastic tissue in all cases. In contrast, no significant decrease in Cu concentration was detected in our cases.