Accumulating studies have shown that silencing of suppressors and abnormal activation of oncogenes in tumours are caused by epigenetic modifications during carcinogenesis.25 Histone modification and noncoding RNA regulation are two important regulatory mechanisms.26,27 HepaCAM is an Ig-like adhesion molecule that can be detected in normal tissues and is usually absent in cancer tissues.15,16 The absence of cell adhesion molecules allows tumour cell detachment and dissemination from the primary mass. The gene discussed is HEPACAM; the disease is cancer.