DNA from 63 adenomas (31 polypoid, 17 superficial elevated, 15 superficial depressed), 66 submucosally invasive carcinomas (47 polypoid, 19 non-polypoid) and 34 advanced carcinomas were examined for K- ras codon 12 point mutations and APC mutations in the mutation cluster region. The gene discussed is APC; the disease is adenoma.