To address whether dysregulated expression of MMR genes in tumor tissues was attributed to any germline polymorphisms, the genotype and allele frequencies of seven tagSNPs located within 1 kb upstream from the transcriptional start sites and in the coding sequences of hMLH1, hMSH6 and hMSH2 genes were selected for their possible genetic association with prostate cancer risk. The gene discussed is MRC1; the disease is prostate carcinoma.