Homogenates of human renal cell carcinomas were tested for glutathione-S-transferase, an enzyme of normal proximal tubule cells. All tumors were positive; mean tumor fraction enzyme activity was 0.040 +/- 0.02 mumol/min/microgram protein. Glutathione-S-transferase activity in homogenates from normal kidney was 0.022 and 0.054 mumol/min/microgram protein. Finding similar levels of a major cytosolic enzyme in tumor and renal cortex confirms the origin of renal cell carcinoma in the proximal nephron. Glutathione-S-transferase, which binds carcinogens and steroids, may play a role in carcinogenesis and serve as a marker for this tumor.