The MethyLight assay (Eads et al, 2001) was used to obtain quantitative estimates for the level of methylation of CpG islands within the ERα, MYOD, P16(INK4A), MLH1, APC, P14(ARF), DAPK and TIMP3 genes in normal colonic mucosa from patients with CRC. This evidence concerns the gene APC and colorectal carcinoma.