A similar anticorrelation was observed comparing sporadic to SDHB tumours (Pearson’s ρ = −0.3515, p = 2.7 × 10–14) but not between VHL and SDHB tumours (Pearson’s ρ = −0.1409, p = 0.32) (Additional file 6: Figure S6). The gene discussed is SDHB; the disease is neoplasm.