Hypermethylation in CDH1 gene and its reduced expression in gut, liver, prostate and breast cancers, which could be due to the disruption of intercellular adhesion and impairment of β-catenin mediated transactivation of cadherin–catenin complex (Graff et al, 1995; Sadot et al, 1998; Tamura et al, 2000; Corn et al, 2001; Oue et al, 2002), has been reported. The gene discussed is CDH17; the disease is breast cancer.