In the present analysis, an inverse correlation between methylation and gene expression was observed for 209 genes in CLL including transcription factors (ID4, NFATC1, TBX2, TAL1, MEIS1), SPRY family members (SPRY1, SPRY2) and SOX family members (SOX4, SOX7). Here, SOX4 is linked to B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.