This study was designed to evaluate and compare the genome-wide levels of methylation within kidney tumors resulting from familial syndromes including HLRCC, SDH complex mutation (referred to herein as SDHB-RCC), von Hippel–Lindau syndrome (VHL) associated with germline mutation of VHL, hereditary papillary renal cell carcinoma (HPRC) associated with germline mutation of MET, and Birt-Hogg-Dubé syndrome (BHD) associated with germline mutation of FLCN. The gene discussed is SDHB; the disease is renal cell carcinoma.