Further multivariate logistic regression analyses with adjustment for age, BMI, occupation and family history of cancer showed that the hypermethylation of AOX-1 (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.30–2.27, P = 0.00), RERG (OR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.56–2.77, P = 0.00), ADAMTS9 (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.37–2.49, P = 0.00) and IRF4 (OR = 16.96, 95% CI: 5.15–55.84, P = 0.00) were still significantly associated with CRC. Here, ADAMTS9 is linked to cancer.