Clustered DNA methylation changes in polycomb target genes in early-stage liver cancer

► Polycomb protein-regulated loci are modified epigenetically in liver cancer cells. ► Non-polycomb tumor suppressors are modified epigenetically in liver cancer cells. ► Polycomb targets become hypomethylated in early-stage liver cancer. ► A non-polycomb tumor suppressor gene is hypermethylated in early-stage liver cancer. ► The observed changes in DNA methylation status occur independently in liver cancer.