The role of IL-10 in colorectal carcinogenesis is complex as it can alternately promote and inhibit carcinogenesis (Moore et al, 2001; Lin and Karin, 2007; Uronis et al, 2009), and both increased and decreased IL-10 gene or protein expression have been found in tumour tissue (Miki et al, 2002; Csiszar et al, 2004; Schetter et al, 2009; Stanilov et al, 2009). The gene discussed is IL10; the disease is neoplasm.