In the present study we chose to analyze the methylation status of a panel of 40 tumour suppressor genes (TIMP3, APC, CDKN2A, MLH1, ATM, RARB, CDKND2B, HIC1, CHFR, BRCA1, CASP8, CDKN1B, PTEN, BRCA2, CD44, RASSF1, DAPK1, VHL, ESR1, TP73, FHIT, CADM1, CDH13, GSTP1, CCND2, SCGB3A1, BNIP3, DLC1, HLTF, SFRP5, H2AFX, CACNA1AG, SFRP4, TWIST1, BCL2, CACNA1A, ID4, RUNX3, PRDM2 and TGIF) in PCa and healthy prostatic tissue to identify a tumour-specific methylation pattern that could facilitate early diagnosis. Here, HIC1 is linked to posterior cortical atrophy.