The aim of this study was to explore whether the promoter methylation status of RASSF1A as detected by MethyLight assay is altered in the serum of patients with HBV-related HCC compared with age- and gender-matched patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), liver cirrhosis (LC) and healthy individuals. Here, RASSF1 is linked to laryngotracheoesophageal cleft.