This meta-analysis showed that methylation of p16, RASSF1A, APC, GSTP1, CDH1, p15, RUNX3, SOCS1, SFRP1, PRDM2, p14, RARβ and p73 genes in HCC tumor tissues was significantly higher than both adjacent tissues and normal tissues, revealing that the number of hepatic cells with these methylated genes may increase significantly in hepatocarcinogenesis process from normal liver to adjacent liver and HCC. The gene discussed is SFRP1; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.