Suppressor of cytokine signalling-1 is downregulated by methylation of the CpG island in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), multiple myeloma and pancreatic ductal neoplasm (Yoshikawa et al, 2001; Nagai et al, 2002; Fukushima et al, 2003; Galm et al, 2003; Okochi et al, 2003). Here, SOCS1 is linked to plasma cell myeloma.