The DNA methylation patterns in the CpG island of the O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), p16, deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) genes were determined by sodium bisulfite treatment and subsequent methylation-specific PCR MS PCR. The gene discussed is DAPK1; the disease is colorectal cancer.