The aim of the present study is to investigate the mRNA expression profile of the death receptor genes DR4 (TRAIL-R1) and DR5 (TRAIL-R2), as well as IAP genes cIAP1, cIAP2, XIAP and BIRC5/Survivin in CRC and normal tissue samples and to evaluate their potential diagnostic and prognostic significance, as well as their putative association with KRAS mutation status in CRC. This evidence concerns the gene XIAP and colorectal carcinoma.