Hypermethylation of the MAL promoter has been shown in colorectal and oesophageal cancers and MAL has been proposed as a putative tumour suppressor in these cancer types (Mimori et al, 2003; Kazemi-Noureini et al, 2004; Mori et al, 2006). The gene discussed is MAL; the disease is carcinoma of esophagus.