The DNA sequencing on PCR products revealed that the methylation levels of CpG islands around the transcription start site (TSS) of SFRP1 was significantly increased in two HCC specimens, 11C and 38C, as compared to that of non-cancerous livers (p < 0.01) (Fig. 6B), whereas the methylation status in one HCC sample was not significantly changed. Here, SFRP1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.