HCC cell lines MHCC97-H, Huh7 and SK-HEP-1 have shown a gradual decrease in SMP30 mRNA as well as protein levels (Fig. 5b and c), while a gradual increase in the average DNA methylation levels of 4 CpG sites has been observed (Fig. 5d). The gene discussed is RGN; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.