SHOX2 and cancer: For example, the hypermethylation of gene SEPTIN9 (SEPT9) has been extensively studied as an early screening biomarker for colorectal cancer2; methylation status of SHOX2 has been utilized in both lung cancer3,4 and colon cancer5 detection; MGMT has been studied in relation to brain tumors6; RASSF1A has been shown as a potential candidate for pan-cancer biomarker7,8, aiding both cancer diagnosis and prognosis9.