In 2010, a Japanese study first reported altered TWIST1 methylation levels in different colorectal tissues, with the highest methylation levels in tumour and decreasing levels in colorectal adenoma and normal nontumour colorectal mucosa in CRC patients (median 55.7%, 25.6%, and 0.0%, respectively, P < 0.001). The gene discussed is TWIST1; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.