ESR2 and rectal cancer: This is in agreement with the study of Slattery et al. which evaluated ESR2 rs1256049 in a case–control population of vast majority of Caucasian and found that the C allele of rs1256049 conferred an increased risk of rectal cancer among the total population if diagnosed before 60 years of age, and an increased risk in colon cancer if estrogen positive[25].