Table 1. Characteristics of studies in this meta-analysis.

Author (Ref)	Mean/median age (years) [range]	M+/M–		Specimen types	Methods	Methylation site	RUNX3 expression	Quality score
		Patients	Controls
Hou DR et al. (34) 2009, China	55 [38-64]	30/32	11/51	Tissue	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Negative	6
Zhang Y et al. (31) 2011, China	59 [35-80]	18/60	8/70	Tissue	MSP	Cpg islands	Not reported	5
Yu GP et al. (32) 2012, China	57 [38-72]	26/32	10/48	Tissue	MSP	Promoter	Not reported	7
Lu DG et al. (33) 2011, China	59.6 [42-75]	25/37	0/46	Serum*	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Not reported	5
Yanagawa N et al. (35) 2003, Japan	67.3 [39-86]	15/60	2/73	Tissue	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Not reported	6
Suzuki M et al. (36) 2005, Japan	65	25/92	0/51	Tissue	MSP	Cpg islands	Not reported	4
Yanagawa N et al. (37) 2007, Japan	68.1 [39-86]	25/76	3/98	Tissue	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Not reported	8
Yoshino M et al. (38) 2009, Japan	63.2 [44-90]	9/35	2/30	Tissue	MSP	Cpg islands	Not reported	8
Li QL et al. (39) 2004, Korea	Not reported	6/19	0/25	Tissue	MSP	Promoter	Not reported	7
Chung JH et al. (40) 2011, Korea	59.2 [34-85]	29/61	0/20	Tissue	q-MSP	Cpg islands	Not reported	8
Tan SH et al. (23) 2007, Singapore	Not reported	11/9	0/10	Serum*	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Not reported	4
Omar MF et al. (41) 2012, Singapore	Not reported	3/6	3/2	Tissue	MSP	Promoter hypermethylation	Positive	4
Licchesi JD et al. (42) 2008, USA	69.6 [48-80]	17/1	13/33	Tissue	MSP	Promoter hypermethylationhy	Negative	6

M+, the number of tissues with methylation; M–, the number of tissues with unmethylation. *, peripheral serum.