There was, however, a significant relationship between the level of CHRM3 expression and the presence of colon cancer metastases; whereas metastases were absent in all 8 cancers lacking over-expression of CHRM3, metastatic disease was present in 5 of 10 individuals (50%) in whom CHRM3 was over-expressed in the primary tumor (P = 0.04). The gene discussed is CHRM3; the disease is cancer.