SHOX2 and neoplasm: SHOX2 and SEPT9 were found to be hypermethylated in tumour tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues (diagnostic accuracy: AUCSEPT9 = 0.94, 95% CI [0.90–0.97], AUCSHOX2 = 0.76, 95% CI [0.71–0.80], P < 0.001; Fig. 1).