To identify potential biomarkers whose expression is inhibited by hypermethylation, we sought genes that were downregulated and showed promoter hypermethylation in tumor tissue for MPNST vs. NF and MPNST vs. control comparisons; 42% of the differentially methylated promoters were shared, most of which were hypermethylated. Here, NFASC is linked to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.