There is evidence of modulation of expression of several of the ADAMTS genes in cancer, with significant downregulation (two-fold or lower) of ADAMTS-8 in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Heighway et al, 2002; Dunn et al, 2004) and hypermethylation of the promoter region being a possible mechanism of gene silencing (Dunn et al, 2004). This evidence concerns the gene ADAMTS8 and cancer.