WWOX and cancer: Downregulation or absence of WWOX mRNA expression in various types of cancer can be attributed to mutation, homozygous deletion, chromosomal translocations within or near the WWOX locus, hypermethylation of the promoter region or alterations in transcriptional control (Paige et al, 2001; Ludes-Meyers et al, 2003; Ishii et al, 2003).