In recent year, one of the hot topics in esophageal carcinoma research is the impaired gene expression resulted from hypermethylation within the promoter regions of rumor suppressor genes. Many studies suggested that DNA methylation plays an important role in the initiation, invasion, and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma. DNA methylation spectrum in peripheral blood may be used as markers for early diagnose, prognosis prediction and follow up in esophageal cancer patients. De-methylation of tumor suppressor genes may become a target of esophageal carcinoma therapy.