There were also 32 tissue samples obtained at 1-10 cm from colon cancers (removed during resection) that were cut as triplicates and immunostained for Pms2, Ercc1 and Xpf, as well as 38 additional tissue samples obtained at 1-10 cm from colon cancers that were immunostained for Ku86. This evidence concerns the gene XRCC5 and malignant colon neoplasm.