This included PPP1R14D, BST2 and ZNF550, whose expression was induced by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (decitabine) treatment in colon cancer cell lines with low basal expression and high promoter methylation of these genes (Additional file 1: Table S2 and Additional file 1: Fig. S7c–e). This evidence concerns the gene BST2 and malignant colon neoplasm.