We divided the dataset (overall n = 405, for cohort characteristics see Additional file 5) into low methylated (RBBP8 β values (β ≤ 0.4)) and highly methylated (β > 0.4) tumor samples and found that a prevalent loss of RBBP8 mRNA expression was only present in tumors with high RBBP8 promoter methylation compared to normal bladder tissue (Fig. 2e). The gene discussed is RBBP8; the disease is neoplasm.