In order to verify the specificity of RARB and RASSF1A hypermethylation in relation to malignant phenotype in bladder tissue, we evaluated these genes in exfoliated urothelial cells from patients without cancer (control group): RARB and RASSF1A hypermethylation were detected in 8.3% and 33.3%, respectively. The gene discussed is RARB; the disease is cancer.