This hypomethylation was accompanied by a significant increase in SPDEF mRNA expression in tumor tissues (p < 0.001; Fig. 6B).Regression analysis revealed a statistically significant inverse correlation between methylation at cg11346722 and SPDEF expression (R = − 0.38, p < 2.2 × 10−16), supporting the link between reduced methylation and transcriptional activation (Fig. 6C). The gene discussed is SPDEF; the disease is neoplasm.