AIM:To investigate the polymorphic simple sequence repeat in intron 1 of the epidermal growth factor receptor gene(EGFR)(CA-SSR I),which is known to affect the efficiency of gene transcription as a putative target of the mismatch repair (MMR) machinery in colorectal tumors.METHODS:The CA-SSR I genotype was analyzed in a total of 86 primary colorectal tumors,selected upon their microsatellite instability (MSI) status [42 with high frequency MSI (MSI-H) and 44 microsatellite stable (MSS)]and their respective normal tissue.The effect of the CASSR I genotype on the expression of the EGFR gene was evaluated in 18 specimens using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR and immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:Mutations in CA-SSR I were detected in 86%(36 of 42) of MSI-H colorectal tumors and 0% (0 of 44) of MSS tumors,indicating the EGFR gene as a novel putative specific target of the defective MMR system (P＜0.001).Impaired expression of EGFR was detected in most of the colorectal tumors analyzed [6/12 (50%) at the mRNA level and 15/18 (83%) at the peptide level].However,no association was apparent between EGFR expression and CA-SSR I status in tumors or normal tissues.CONCLUSION:Our results suggest that CA-SSR I sequence does not contribute to the regulation of EGFR transcription in colon,and should thus not be considered as a promising predictive marker for response to EGFR inhibitors in patients with colorectal cancer.