The present study showed that the mRNA expression of WWOX, FHIT and p73 was reversely correlated with the methylation of WWOX, FHIT and p73 in ALL, indicating that the highly methylated status of WWOX, FHIT and p73 leads to silencing of the expression of these genes, which may result in the loss of gene transcriptions and promote the occurrence and development of ALL. The gene discussed is FHIT; the disease is acute lymphoblastic leukemia.