The difference of CDKN2A-methylation and p16 protein expression between HCCs and liver metastases was statistically significant (p < 0.01, respectively).
RASSF1A methylation was associated with histopathologic type of tumors (P = 0.03) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.004), and p16 methylation with older patient age (P = 0.002) and liver metastasis (P = 0.04).
There is a correlation between telomerase activity and homozygous deletions of the p16 gene in liver metastases of colorectal carcinoma, suggesting its crucial role in liver metastases.