When we examined the DERL3 CpG island methylation status in colorectal adenomas (n=12), a lesion that is a precursor of invasive colorectal tumours, we observed that DERL3 hypermethylation was already present in 33% (4 of 12) of these samples (Fig. 6c). This evidence concerns the gene DERL3 and colorectal neoplasm.