Previous reports have revealed significant associations between XPD or XRCC1 gene polymorphisms and survival of lung or colorectal cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy or radiotherapy (Park et al, 2001; Gurubhagavatula et al, 2004; Stoehlmacher et al, 2004; Yoon et al, 2005). Here, XRCC1 is linked to colorectal cancer.