As disruption of processes involved in programmed cell death is a common feature of human cancer, it is significant that DAPK was recently shown to be inactivated by promoter methylation in a variety of human tumours, including B cell lymphoma, small cell lung cancer and multiple myeloma (Kissil et al, 1997; Katzenellenbogen et al, 1999; Esteller, 2000; Tang et al, 2000; Dong et al, 2001; Kim et al, 2001; Ng et al, 2001). The gene discussed is DAPK1; the disease is neoplasm.