The paper deals with the data on 1,248 autopsied cases of renal cancer. Metastases were detected in 87.1% (lung--48.2, lymph nodes--43.6, bones and joints--29.1 and liver--28.7%). 90 out of 139 cases of brain metastases died of the lesion. Metastases into the operative scar (most likely, implantation ones) were registered in 8 out of 224 (3.6%) previously nephrectomized cases. In some patients, nephrectomy produced an inhibitory effect on metastatic spread; 13% of the nephrectomized patients survived 5-20 years after surgery.