Methylation assays were performed in 195 subjects with BE to evaluate the methylation levels and frequencies of individual genes, including p16, RUNX3, HPP1, NELL1, TAC1, SST, AKAP12 and CDH13 and five of these genes (NELL1, TAC1, SST, AKAP12 and CDH13) were found to harbour methylated sites (27). The gene discussed is NELL1; the disease is Barrett esophagus.