The sequencing data thus demonstrates colorectal cancer-specific DNA methylation for regions of 23 genes (COL1A2, COL4A1, COL4A2, DLX5, EDIL3, EFEMP, FBN1, FGF5, FOXB1, FOXD2, FOXF1, GRASP, IRX1, MEIS1, MMP2, NPY, PDX1, PPP1R14A, SDC2, SOX21, SUSD5, TCF21 and ZNF471) and specific regions that may be used for development of assays to distinguish cancer from normal DNA. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is colorectal cancer.