Moreover, our previous study indicated an earlier onset of CRC in patients with the MSH2 mutation than in patients with the MLH1 mutation22, which was consistent with our finding that the cumulative risk of CRC at the age of 70 in the patients with the MSH2 germline mutation was higher than that in those with the MLH1 mutation in the Han Chinese population in Taiwan. The gene discussed is MLH1; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.