Furthermore, the subgroup analysis based on the test method employed to detect DAPK gene methylation demonstrated a strong relationship between methylation of the DAPK promoter and NPC when the methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) test method was used (OR = 10.35, 95%CI = 2.71–39.53, p < 0.0001). Here, DAPK1 is linked to nasopharyngeal carcinoma.