TGFBR1 and colorectal carcinoma: Although risk-conferring germline genetic variants in this gene had not been identified, we reported that germline allele-specific expression (ASE) of TGFBR1, measured with the SNaPshot technique, occurred in ∼20% of informative CRC patients and ∼3% of informative controls, thus conferring a substantially increased risk of CRC (odds ratio 8.7, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.6–29.1) (Valle et al, 2008).