It is noteworthy that, in the present study, we also observed the RASSF1A promoter methylation in the normal esophageal and gastric cardia epithelial tissue adjacent to corresponding ESCC and GCA (in ESCC: 13%, 23/143; in GCA: 20%, 19/92). The gene discussed is RASSF1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.