Although inherited susceptibility is responsible for ∼30% of all colorectal cancers (CRCs) (Lichtenstein et al, 2000), high-penetrance, germline mutations in APC, the mismatch repair (MMR) genes, MUTYH/MYH, SMAD4, ALK3 and STK11/LKB1 account for <5% of cases (Aaltonen et al, 2007). Here, MUTYH is linked to colorectal cancer.