TFAP2E and rectal cancer: With specific regard to the response of rectal cancer patients, only 10 % of patients with hypermethylated TFAP2E showed a tumour regression response in comparison to 82 % of those with hypomethylated TFAP2E. These differences were seen in patients treated with neoadjuvant radiotherapy and the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), either alone or in combination with irinotecan and cetuximab.