Compared to the previous study, which investigated the association of tagSNPs in IFNG, IFNGR1, IFNGR2 and IRF1-9 with the risk and survival of colon and rectal cancer [16], our study focused on potentially functional SNPs and covered in addition to the IRFs, IFNG and its receptors also other IFNs and their receptors. This evidence concerns the gene IFNG and rectal cancer.