These include ACTG1P22; AVIL; AZGP1; B4GALNT4; CCDC129; CHAT; HCK; HPGDS; HTR3E; KLK13; LRMP; MATK; PIK3CG; PLCG2; POU2F3; PSTPIP2; RGS13; SH2D6; SH2D7; TAS1R3 and TRPM5, implicating these genes as novel CRC risk-associated loci—henceforth referred to as the ‘refined trans-eQTL targets’. Here, POU2F3 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.